
Class V ?■') 7 



PRESENTRD BY 



Sketches of 

Old Marlboro 

By D. D. McCoU 




Presses of 

The State Company 

Columbia, S. C. 



^ 






Sketches of 

Old Marlboro 

By D.T).4lcGoll 







Mii 24 ISIP 



INTRODUCTION 



QO ONE will realize more completely than the writer already 
realizes, that the following sketches do not measure up to 
a high standard of literary or historical merit. They are 
intended to represent only the efforts of an amateur who has 
found diversion from the steady routine of business in the occa- 
sional study of local history. These articles, written at odd 
moments during the past five years, are the partial result of 
research and investigation respecting some of the early people 
and institutions of Marlboro County. They are now printed in 
a limited number, not for sale or profit, but in the hope that 
others may be induced to perform work in the field of local his- 
tory, and to preserve facts not now recorded. 

One of the melancholy truths impressed by the study of local 
history is that families scatter and disappear. The Deed 
Indexes and other records of Marlboro County, show in striking 
manner that families once numerous and prominent are now 
extinct in the county. In fact, it seems that in response to some 
natural law, family names constantly disappear from communi- 
ties where they have been numerous and distinguished. The 
original grantees largely disappeared before the Revolution, and 
from 1785 — the date that marks the commencement of Marlboro 
records — the tendency to disappear is marked and easily verified. 
These sketches deal almost exclusively with the names of indi- 
viduals and families that are no longer borne by living men in 
Marlboro County — not because they were more important than 
those still represented in the county, but because they are no 
longer here. These sketches are recognized to be imperfect and 
fragmentary and are intended as a disinterested contribution to 
the history of the county, which deserves so much from the hand 
of a chronicler. Marlboro County owes much to the past. The 
material achievements of the county are great and have been 
chiefly exploited, but more important by far is the quality of the 
citizenship that has made Marlboro County. For every effect 
there is always a cause, wdiether it can be readily identified or 
not. Back in the early days may be sought the primary causes 
for the peaceful virtues which still characterize the county. The 
Welch Baptists, who founded and for many years dominated the 
county, stamped upon it their own salient qualities of industry, 



4 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

piety and respect for the laws of God and State. The rugged 
pioneers from other States and the invahiable Scotch element 
brought additional strength to the new community, but the 
blended citizenship that resulted, exhibited, and still continues 
to exhibit, the powerful impress of that devoted band of Baptists 
who first confronted the dangers and difficulties of the new land. 
There in the forest primeval their simple lives glided on like the 
river by which they had settled, "darkened by the shadows of 
earth, but reflecting the image of heaven." There "beneath the 
murmuring pines, bearded with moss, these forefathers slumber." 
Their last resting places are unknown, unmarked and forgotten, 
but their influence is a visible and living force which still sways 
the destinies of their descendants. 

D. D. McCOLL. 
Bennettsville. S. C. Januarv 15. 1916. 



MASON LEE'S WILL. 

It is natural for present day curiosity to turn to the pages of 
the past and endeavor to learn something of the lives of those 
who were once swayed by the same passions and animated by 
the same ambitions as today rule over the hearts of men. As the 
pioneers of most counties of South Carolina left but few written 
memorials of themselves and their times, the greater portion of 
local history has been buried in oblivion. The present genera- 
tion, however, rejoices at the occasional opportunities which are 
offered to learn from the lips of tradition or the pages of musty 
records something of the things and people of the long ago. 

Marlboro County, in common with many other communities, 
has irretrievably lost much of its priceless history connected with 
the revolutionary period. Likewise, many of her traditions of 
departed things and people, are becoming dim in the minds of 
men, and will soon be utterly forgotten, unless the fragments are 
rescued by the written record of today. Among the others is 
the history of Mason Lee, Avho was one of the most unique and 
peculiar characters that ever lived within the borders of this \ 
State. The oddities of this man's life were once known to many 
people, but today his memory is nearly forgotten. Fortunately, 
however, the judicial history of the State has preserved in the 
record of a remarkable legal controversy, those salient peculiari- 
ties of character which marked him out so distinctly among his 
contemporaries. The narrative of Mason Lee and his peculiar 
will is not of any particular historical importance, but it is 
instructive as showing how human character may be warped by 
youthful misfortune or physical shock. It is interesting, likewise, 
as shoAving the futility of human plans for the disposition of 
property and other worldly concerns after death. Mason Lee 
lived and died in Marlboro County nearly a century ago. His 
body now slumbers in old Brownsville Cemetery in a square 
brick grave marked by a marble slab. His name, rudely carved 
there, instinctively recalls those oddities and peculiarities which 
were so striking and unusual as to render him a local celebrity 
during life, and so effectually were they perpetuated by his last 
will and testament that they afforded the occasion for one of 
the most celebrated legal battles ever waged in this county or 



6 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

State. He was a man of obscure and humble life, yet his distorted 
imagination conceived and executed the fantastic plan of making 
two great and sovereign States the sole objects of his testamen- 
tary bounty. South Carolina may point the finger of scorn at 
the witch trials which stained the history of the illustrious State 
of Massachusetts, yet, at a much later period, the great States of 
South Carolina and Tennessee became the beneficiaries and lega- 
tees of an humble citizen who undoubtedly passed a good portion 
of his life in the firm conviction that witches and evil spirits 
held unhappy empire over the mortal affairs of men. 

It is related that Mason Lee was born in North Carolina about 
the year 1770, and was reared in good social surroundings and 
given the opportunity of fair educational advantages. He con- 
tinued to reside in North Carolina until he was about thirty 
years old, and did not, according to the testimony of those who 
knew him then, manifest any symptoms whatever of the eccen- 
tricity of character for which he was afterwards noted. About 
the time he was thirty years of age he was shocked by lightning, 
and it is supposed that all of the peculiarities and eccentricities 
of his future life were largely attributable to this affliction visited 
upon him in his early manhood by the hand of Providence. Soon 
after this misfortune he moved into the State of Georgia, where 
he first began to develop the abnormal traits of character which 
afterwards became so marked. While residing in Georgia he 
was again visited by misfortune and underwent an experience 
which probably increased his infirmities of mind, and certainly 
was the cause of his removal to South Carolina. He killed a 
negro — under what circumstances, is not now known, but he 
became a fugitive from justice and fled to South Carolina. He 
settled in Brownsville Township, Marlboro County, where, 
despite his eccentricities, he succeeded in accumulating a large 
estate in land and negroes, and this is what he undertook to dis- 
pose of by one of the most remarkable wills ever written. He 
left everything in equal portions to the States of South Carolina 
and Tennessee, and particularly excluded his own relatives from 
the enjoyment of any of his property. The language he used, 
however, was almost stranger than his choice of two great and 
wealthy States as his beneficiaries, and the particular exclusion 
of his own relatives. He said: "It is my will and desire that no 
part nor parcel of my estate shall be enjoyed or in anywise inher- 
ited by either or any of my relations while wood groios or water 



BY D. D. McCOLL 7 

runs, and my executors are enjoined to contend with them either 
in law or equity to enforce this my will by employing the best 
Charleston lawyers at the expense of my estate again, again and 
again. And my executors are again enjoined to contend against 
any of my relations who may wish to have my estate or to defend 
this will so long as there is money enough left to fee the best 
lawyers in Charleston or in the States above mentioned." 

The relations referred to by Mason Lee were some people 
named Wiggins and Taylor, who were probably his nephews and 
nieces. They were, at any rate, the nearest blood relations he 
had. As was to be expected, they immediately instituted legal 
proceedings to set aside the will, on the ground that Lee was of 
unsound mind. The executor, who was Robertson Carlos, Esq., 
was required to prove the will in solemn form. The case first 
came up before the Ordinary, William Easterling, at the resi- 
dence of Samuel Townsend, on the 16th day of June, 1823, and 
was afterwards adjourned to Marlboro New Court House. The 
Ordinary admitted the will to probate and an appeal was taken 
from his decision to the Circuit Court, which was presided over 
at that term by Judge Thomas Waties. The case w^as heard anew 
before a jury, of which Samuel Wilds Gillespie was foreman, and 
the verdict was to the effect that Mason Lee was perfectly compe- 
tent to make a will. The case was then carried to the Supreme 
Court, which affirmed the judgment of the lower court. It is quite 
likely that the Mason Lee will case is one of the first ever tried 
in the New Court House at Bennettsville. The county seat had 
recently been moved from the river to Bennettsville, which was 
a more healthy and accessible location. Imagination fails to 
depict the picture presented at the trial of this old case. The 
fame of it had gone abroad throughout the community and the 
opportunity of hearing such a case as the first one tried in the 
New Court House was one to be taken advantage of by all the 
people who desired to witness a great spectacle. The lawyers 
engaged in this case were men whose distinguished ability has 
never been surpassed in the judicial annals of the State. For the 
will appeared Josiah J. Evans and William Campbell Preston. 
The former, a native son of Marlboro, was afterwards a wise and 
pure judge, and at the time of his death, a Uinted States Senator, 
high in the esteem of the nation. W. C. Preston was an orator 
whose fame and renown approached that of his distinguished 
kinsman, Patrick Henry, and afterwards, he, too, was elected to a 



8 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

position in the United States Senate. Against the will appeared 
James R. Ervin, a distinguished lawyer of the Marlboro bar, 
Abram Blanding, one of the celebrated advocates of South Caro- 
lina, and William Harper, afterwards distinguished as judge of 
the Chancery Court of this State. Thus it will be seen that the 
executors heeded the solemn injunction of Mason Lee to employ 
the best legal talent available to defend his will. His relations 
likewise showed that they realized the necessity that was upon 
then to prepare for a great legal battle. 

Macaulay, in his essay on the Warren Hastings trial, depicts, 
in his wonderful language, the dramatic setting of that great 
event in the history of the English Parliament. The trial of 
the Mason Lee will, while not surrounded with the same degree 
of pomp and splendor, surely must have been a spectacle to 
arouse the interest and curiosity of thronging masses of people 
who found little opportunity, in the poverty of their daily lives, 
to enjoy spectacular entertainments such as they knew this was 
bound to prove. The New Court House, erected in the midst of 
the primeval forest, was about to receive its christening as a 
place for the administration of justice by the trial of the case 
which had excited the interest and curiosity of all, and enlisted 
the talents of those who were then, and afterwards, distinguished 
for their ability, eloquence and wisdom. Presiding over the 
court was that judge now famous in South Carolina history, and 
who was then respected by the people for his professional attain- 
ments and endeared to them by the fresh recollection of his ser- 
vice as a Revolutionary soldier. The foreman of the jury 
entrusted with the trial of the case, bore the name of, and was 
related to Samuel Wilds, who was one of the most gifted and 
accomplished men ever born on Marlboro soil. 

The testimony at the trial laid bare the peculiarities of Mason 
Lee, and showed such eccentricities as surely never existed before 
in a human being. It was shown that the Wiggins and Taylors 
were the relations of Mason Lee, and that he had no good cause 
for disliking any of them. It appeared that he had two natural 
sons who were twins, and that neither of them had given him any 
cause of offense. He was living with one of them at the time of 
his death, on the most amicable footing. "Although these two 
sons were twins, he claimed that he was the father of only one of 
them. He had formed a settled determination not to make a will 
in favor of any human being, and this arose from the belief that 



BY D. D. McCOLL 9 

if he did so, the legatee would wish him dead or otherwise injure 
him. He appeared to have no objection to giving property to 
those very relations whom he disinherited, provided the gift took 
present effect, and, therefore, could not be followed by the de- 
structive wish of his death. He accordingly gave property to 
some of those very relations to Avhom he had such an invincible 
aversion to giving by will, and he offered to give Baker Wiggins 
a plantation for the consideration of seven pence. He labored 
under the further belief that his relations "wished him dead in 
order to get his property, and for that purpose, to use his own 
language, '"''they sqnihhed and darted, and gum/mered him'^; that 
they used supernatural agencies, and that in various forms they 
bewitched him. He believed that all women were witches, and 
would not sleep on a bed made by a woman. He believed that 
the Wiggins were in his teeth, and to dislodge them he had 
fourteen sound teeth extracted, evincing no suffering from the 
operation. He had the quarters of his shoes cut off, saying that 
if the devil got into his feet he could drive him out the easier. 
He had holes cut on each side of his shoes so that if the devil 
came in on one side he could drive him out on the other. He 
always shaved his head close, as he said that in his contest with 
the witches they might not get hold of his hair. He had innum- 
erable swords of all sizes and shapes, fifteen or twenty in the 
course of a year, which he was constantly altering. One of his 
swords was four feet long with two edges ; another eleven inches 
wide by fourteen long, with a handle; they were made by a 
neighboring blacksmith to enable him to fight the devil and 
witches with success. In the day time, neglecting his business, 
he dozed in a hollow gum log for a bed in his miserable hovel; 
and at night, kept awake contending against the devil and 
witches. He fancied at one time that he had the devil nailed up 
in the fireplace at one end of his house, and had a mark made 
across his room over which he would never pass or suffer it to be 
swept. He would sometimes send for all of his negroes to throw 
dirt ui3on the roof of his house to drive off witches. He once per- 
formed a journey of several days and was within a half a day's 
travel of the i:»lace where he was to attend to important business, 
when at night, hearing the rats running in the loft, he got up, 
said the witches had followed him, and, abandoning his business, 
returned immediately home. He believed that he had conversed 
with God, and said that he had met Him in the woods, and 



10 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

promised Him that if He would let him get rich, he would live 
poor and miserable all of his life. While he lived in the Pee Dee 
swamp he dwelt in a house worse than that occupied by any of 
his slaves. His bed was a split hollow gum log with one or two 
blankets in this gum. He would sometimes keep three or four 
razors and as many pistols. He had no chair or table in his 
house, nor dishes nor plates. He used a forked stick. His meat was 
boar and bull beef and dumplings, served up in the same pot in 
which it was boiled, placed on a chest, which answered for both 
table and chair. He drank his whiskey from a jug, having no 
tumbler. He would not drink out of a tumbler after another per- 
son, to avoid harm. His clothes were of his own make. They 
had no buttons. His pantaloons were as wide as petticoats with- 
out any waistband, and fastened around him by a rope. His coat 
was rather a cloak, and his overcoat a blanket with a hole cut 
through it to receive his head. His saddle was a piece of hollow 
gum log covered with leather, of his own make. 

From the time he came to this State, which Avas some years 
before his death, the management of his property was most 
extraordinary. He had his plows and plantation tools made in 
remarkable shapes. He cut all the tails off his hogs and cattle 
close to the roots. He said the cows made themselves poor by 
fighting flies with their tails, but if they were cut off that the 
cows would get as fat as squabs. This was not a mere transient 
whim, for he acted on it uniformly, and always cut the ears off 
of his horses and mules close to the head. When he was away 
from home and purchased a horse he would instantly cut off his 
ears and mount him while he was still bleeding. He hoed his 
corn after frost; said it would gi'ow out green again. He was 
never known to go to church. He took no interest in public 
affairs; never voted and was not required to do militia, patrol or 
road duty. His peculiar opinions, extravagances and follies were 
held and exhibited both when he was sober and when he was 
drunk. He states as his reason for leaving his propertj^ to the 
States of South Carolina and Tennessee, that they would be able 
to contend in law with the Wiggins'. In his will he also directed 
that his negroes should be hired out in Tennessee for a period of 
twenty-three years after his death, and he gave as his reason for 
this provision 'by that time the present generation of Taylors' 
and Wiggins' would pass away.' A^Hien his will was about to be 
executed, he sent many miles for a witness, although there were 



BY D. D. McCOLL 11 

many respectable and responsible persons present. The witnesses 
arrived about 9 o'clock in the morning and the will was already 
prepared and ready for signature. Lee would not sign it until 
all present declared that it was after 12 o'clock. His wearing 
apparel at the time of his death was appraised at one dollar." 

The foregoing testimony reveals the remarkable peculiarities 
of Mason Lee and explains his fantastic method of disposing of 
his estate, which was considered a very large one for the times. 
The final end of this singular case showed the utter futility of 
all his plans. The estate was involved in protracted and expen- 
sive litigation, first in the effort of his heirs at law to declare the 
will null and void, and then arose the necessity of proceeding 
against the persons in charge of the estate to keep it from being 
squandered. Robertson Carloss, who was the executor of Mason 
Lee's will, died and his executor assumed charge of the estate of 
Mason Lee. It became necessary to take proceedings against this 
second executor and appoint a receiver for the entire estate. The 
result of this litgation was, of course, to diminish to a large extent 
the original estate. Then the State of South Carolina, by legisla- 
tion duly passed, vested its one-half share in the very persons that 
Mason Lee himself had been most anxious to exclude from any 
beneficial enjoyment of his property. By an act of the Legisla- 
ture, passed in 1829, the South Carolina share was given in four 
equal parts to the Pennywell twins, the Wiggins heirs and the 
Taylor heirs. It is not definitely known whether the State of 
Tennessee received anything for its share or not. It is known, 
however, that the State of Tennessee sold all of its right, title 
and interest in the estate to Robert B. Campbell, so long a mem- 
ber of Congress from Marlboro County. In the light of subse- 
quent developments, it would have been a great deal better for 
Mason Lee not to have made any effort to disinherit his relations. 
The States of South Carolina and Tennessee did not need the 
property and did not want it. A part of it, greatly diminished 
by reason of the litigation, finally fell into the hands of the Wig- 
gins and Taylor families. In 1829, James R. Ervin was the Sen- 
ator from Marlboro County, and inasmuch as he had been one of 
the attornej^s engaged by the Wiggins and Taylor families to set 
aside the will, it is fair to presume that this legislation was due 
to his efforts. This disposition of the matter, however, was prob- 
ably the wisest and fairest that could have been made, though 



12 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

it was the disposition that the owner of the property had been at 
such great pains to prevent. 

Thus ended the Mason Lee will case. It was the occasion of a 
great forensic contest in Avhich some of the leading lawyers of 
the day participated. The precedent that was made and estab- 
lished in this case makes it a very difficult undertaking in South 
Carolina to set aside a will on the ground of mental incapacity. 
The fantastic disposition contemplated by Lee came to naught, 
for the generosity of South Carolina could not permit it to receive 
an estate belonging under the laws of nature to the kindred of 
this deluded man. Most of the property left after the expenses of 
litigation, the wastefulness of the final executor, and the partial 
distribution among the heirs fell into the hands of Robert B. 
Campbell by purchase. The oddities of Mason Lee lingered long 
in the traditions of old Bronwsville, and they are here sought to 
be preserved as an interesting part of the history of that ancient 
community. 



BARON POELLNITZ. 

One of the early celebrities of Marlboro County, whose name 
is not now known in the county, and Avhose descendants all live 
elsewhere, was Baron Poellnitz, as he was commonly known. 
While his career in this county was extremely short, covering 
perhaps less than ten years, and while he was not noted for any 
particular achievement of historical importance, j^et the tradi- 
tions concerning him cannot fail to be of interest, owing to the 
unique position he occupied as the only scion of the ancient Euro- 
pean nobility who ever established a home in Marlboro County. 

Very little information can be obtained respecting the birth 
place and early life of Baron Poellnitz. The tradition in this 
county has always been that he was a Polish nobleman who was 
moved by the same disinterested impulse that animated his more 
distinguished countrymen, Pulaski and Kosciusko, to offer their 
swords to the struggling American colonies. The tradition has 
been preserved in his family that he was Lord Chamberlain to 
Frederick the Great, of Prussia; that he served in the Revolu- 
tionary War under General Washington, and that in apprecia- 
tion of his services. Congress granted him eighty acres of land 
in what is now the heart of New York City. No tangible evi- 
dence has as yet been found to substantiate any of these tradi- 
tions, except as to the ownership of land in New York City. It 
would seem an easy matter to obtain some information respect- 
ing the rank and position of Baron Poellnitz in his European 
home and the causes and circumstances which led to his removal 
to America. So far, however, the writer has not been able to 
obtain any definite information regarding these points. 

The first authentic record so far available of Baron Poellnitz, 
described an incident of his life in New York before his removal 
to Marlboro County, South Carolina. It seems that prior to 
1788 he was residing in New York City, and the property he 
owned there lends considerable credence to the theory that he 
was grantee of lands which were owned by the new American 
Government. 

Duer, in his "Reminiscence of an Old New Yorker," 1867, page 
52, speaking of the procession celebrating the adoption of the 
Federal Constitution, says "That the first division of the parade 



14 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

was a new invented threshing machine, conducted by Baron 
PoeUnitz and other gentlemen farmers, in farmers' dresses, grind- 
ing and threshing grain." This parade took place July 23, 1788. 
This excerpt, from a contemporary record, is conclusive evidence 
of the fact that Baron PoeUnitz was living in New York as early 
as 1788, and that he was then apparently interested in agricul- 
ture and its development. 

Some time previous to 1790 a famous New York estate passed 
into the hands of Baron PoeUnitz. Owing to the fact that it was 
previously owned by Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Elliott, the 
last British Governor of New York, there is considerable prob- 
ability that it was granted to Baron PoeUnitz as one of the con- 
fiscated estates. It is a well known fact that in South Carolina 
the property of Royalists and Tories was confiscated by the State 
Government after the conclusion of the war. It is probable that 
this same policy was adopted by the State of New York, and, if 
so, no property would have been more apt to be regarded as 
legitimately subject to the principles of the confiscatory Acts 
than the beautiful estate owned by the chief representative of the 
vanquished royal authority. The following quotation from Val- 
entine's Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, 
1865, page 639, gives an authentic description of ''Minto," which 
was afterwards owned by Baron PoeUnitz. "The most notable 
edifice in that vicinity (Sandy Hill, at the upper end of Broad- 
way) was that erected by Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Elliott 
on his estate, which he called "Minto." Mr. Elliott was a son 
of Sir Gilbert Elliott, Lord Chief Justice Clerk of Scotland. In 
1764 he received the appointment of Collector and Receiver Gen- 
eral of the province of New York, and established his residence 
in this city. In 1766 he purchased about thirteen acres of land, 
fronting on the Bowery Road, and afterwards made further pur- 
chases so that his estate covered about twenty-one acres, lying 
partly along the Sandy Hill road and extending to the Minetta 
water. He erected a handsome mansion and gave his estate the 
name above mentioned. In 1780 Mr. Elliott was ai^pointed 
Lieutenant-Governor, and as such, in the absence of the Gover- 
nor, administered the affairs of the province until the evacuation 
of the city by the British, when he returned to his native country. 
His wife was a Philadelphia lady and his daughter was married 
in this city in 1779 to Lord (afterwards Earl) Cathcart, then a 
major in the British army on duty in this city. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 15 

This estate became the property and residence of Frederick 
Charles Hans Bruno Poellnitz, commonly called Baron Poellnitz, 
who sold it in 1790 for the sum of five thousand pounds to Robert 
R. Randall, a merchant and ship master of this city. Mr. Ran- 
dall resided on the property until his death in the early part of 
the present century. By his will, made in 1801, he established, 
principally on the basis of this estate, one of the most munificent 
charities in the country, for the support and maintenance of aged 
and infirm seamen, directing that a suitable edifice be erected and 
denominated "The Sailors' Snug Harbor," from which circum- 
stance arose the name by which the property was known for 
many years. The buildings were, however, finally erected on the 
north shore of Staten Island, the cornerstone being laid August 
1, 1833." 

The additional quotation, taken from Smith's New York City 
in 1789, page 51, throws more light upon the connection of Baron 
Poellnitz with this beautiful and historical estate. "The most 
highly cultivated country place near the city was that of Baron 
Frederick Charles Hans Bruno Poellnitz, comprising twenty-two 
and a half acres of land, situated on the present Broadway, 
between Eighth and Tenth streets, the rear porch of the house 
being destroyed by the cutting through of Broadway. This place 
had been purchased in 1766 by Lieutenant-Governor Elliott, and 
by him was called "Minto," and in 1789 was devoted to fancy 
farming by Baron Poellnitz, who offered for sale in that year. 
The advertisement of it stated that it was about two miles from 
the city and abounded with a greater variety of the choicest fruit 
trees and flowering shrubs than perhaps any other place in the 
State, while it possessed the richest soil of any estate on Manhat- 
tan Island. In 1790 it was sold to Robert R. Randall for five 
thousand pounds, and by his will, in 1801, it was devoted to the 
purpose of the 'Sailors' Snug Harbor.' " The records, found in 
the Register's office, Hall of Records, New York City, show that 
on March 26, 1788, Baron Poellnitz purchased property from 
Arie Ryckman, as shown by deed in Liber 388, page 121, and that 
on the 5th day of June, 1790, he sold property to Robert R. Ran- 
dall, as shown by deed recorded in Liber 46, page 212. In the 
absence of the description of the property, conveyed by the 
Ryckman deed, it is impossible to say whether or not it covered 
the "Minto" estate or whether Baron Poellnitz obtained it from 
others, perhaps the American Government. It is known, how- 



16 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

ever, that the deed to Kobert Richard Randall covered the "Min- 
to" estate, formerly owned by the last Royal Governor of New 
York, and that this "Minto" estate, afterwards of immense value, 
became the foundation of the charitable devise to the old sailors. 

The "Sailors' Snug Harbor," as above stated, was finally 
erected on the north shore of Staten Island, about August 1, 1S33, 
but the source of the fund out of which the edifice was erected 
and which has enabled it to be maintained to the present time 
in splendid and extended usefulness, was the old "Minto" estate, 
first owmed by Baron Poellnitz. A splendid description of this 
charitable institution was written by Sarah Comstock of New 
York City, in the following language: "As we enter the gate 
and walk up the path to the door we pass the monument and 
burial spot of Robert Richard Randall, that curious old bachelor 
who left his vast estate to found this institution. To our right, 
beyond all those scarlet flower beds, rises the statue of Randall, 
by Saint Gaudens, while, buried in Clute's old history of Staten 
Island, is a delightful account of that gentleman of a century ago, 
and how he came to endow a home for old and disabled seamen," 

"There have been popular traditions to the effect that he was 
some sort of an adventurous pirate, cruising on the briny deep, 
plundering and even murdering to gain his greedy ends. Upon 
his deathbed the tale-tellers have related, he was seized with dire 
remorse, and thereupon bequeathed his all to charity. But Clute 
explodes these theories and relates the authoritative account of 
Isaac Bell, who had been foreman of the jury at the suit to break 
Randall's will — not a successful attempt." 

"It seems that this Robert Randall was by no means a pirate, 
or even an adventurer, but a retiring old bachelor who lived in 
New York City. His father was Captain Thomas Randall, a 
daring privateersman, who had gained his immense wealth 
through years of sea-faring. He left his property to this son, 
Robert, who, in what is now the heart of downtown New York, 
lived a quiet and lonely life." 

"He is strangely unremembered. Clute comments on the 
absence of any anecdotes about his life. But this much is known : 
when the time approached for him to die, he sent for Alexander 
Hamilton and Daniel D. Tompkins to prepare his will. Wlien 
they had arrived he began, item by item, to lay before them his 
intentions." 



BY D. D. McCOLL 17 

"First, there were small legacies to various relatives. There 
were his gold sleeve buttons and a life annuity of forty pounds 
to go to his faithful housekeeper. He gave his gold watch and 
forty pounds down to his overseer. His servant was to receive 
twenty pounds down and his knee and shoe buckles. Clute draws 
an imaginary sketch of the bachelor as wearing 'his hair pow- 
dered and in a queue, and (himself) dressed in silk hose and 
breeches with silver shoe and knee buckles, and broad-flapped 
coat and vest.' " 

"Then, having gone through a list of minor items, he stopped." 

"But the bulk of your vast estate!" queried the lawyers." 

"Eandall frowned. "That's what I can't decide upon," he 
said. "What do you think about it?" 

"Upon this Hamilton questioned him as to how he had amassed 
his property." 

"It was my father's," Randall replied." 

"And how did your father acquire it?" persisted the lawyer." 

"By honest privateering," came the response." 

"And then this idea occurred to Hamilton : The great thought 
of a home for weather-beaten and luck-beaten seamen, a fitting 
memorial to the father who had been one of them, and who had 
acquired his wealth upon the seas. The idea suited Randall to a 
tee, and thus another vision of that wonderful constructive mind 
of Hamilton's— the mind that visualized American industry and 
gave it birth in the mills of Paterson— was conjured into being. 
It took many years for the completion of the work. The institu- 
tion was founded in 1801, but litigation delayed the laying of its 
cornerstone for thirty years." 

"Once launched, however, it has sailed a smooth and prosperous 
sea. It opened its doors to forty-six inmates, and now accommo- 
dates nearly 1,000. Buildings have been added from time to 
time, and the Minto farm, which was Randall's Manhattan prop- 
erty, has grown in value so fabulously that the annual income 
from rentals amounts to somewhere in the neighborhood of 
$400,000. This land lies from Fourth to Fifth avenue, and from 
Sixth to Tenth street." 

The foregoing excerpt, taken from an interesting article writ- 
ten by Sarah Comstock, and appearing in the New York Times 
August 8, 1915, gives a very delightful description of Robert 
Richard Randall and the splendid charity created by him, chiefly 
from the proceeds of property received by him from Baron Poell- 



18 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

nitz. Of course, the slightest familiarity with the business sec- 
tion of New York is sufficient to show that property lying between 
Fourth and Fifth avenues, and between Sixth and Tenth streets, 
must now be of enormous value. AVhen it and its income of $400,- 
000 is compared with the stipulated purchase price, five thousand 
pounds, received for it by Baron Poellnitz, and especially when 
it becomes known that the five thousand pounds really repre- 
sented swamp lands in Marlboro County, it becomes apparent 
that the old baron made a trade which probably turned out to 
be very much to his disadvantage. The tradition in this county 
has always been that he exchanged his New York property for 
that ow^ned by him on the Pee Dee River, in Marlboro County. 
The intrinsic evidence of the deeds tends to confirm this tradition. 
The statement is above made that he conveyed "Minto" to Robert 
R. Randall June 5, 1790, for a consideration expressed in the 
deed of five thousand pounds. An old deed, recorded in the 
clerk's office in Marlboro County in Book A A, page 341, shows 
that on the same day, June 5, 1790, "Robert Richard Randall mer- 
chant of the City of New York, conveyed to Frederick Charles 
Hans Bruno Poellnitz, commonly called Baron Poellnitz, at pres- 
ent residing in the said city," 2,991 acres of land for u considera- 
tion of five thousand pounds; therefore it appears obvious, from 
the fact that the deeds were simultaneously executed and based 
upon the same considerations, that there w^as nothing more than 
an exchange of the New York property, owned by Baron Poell- 
nitz, for the South Carolina property, owned by Robert Richard 
Randall. It would be very interesting to know w^hat motives and 
influences induced Baron Poellnitz to agree to an exchange of 
property, which, viewed in the light of the century that has since 
passed, appears to have been such a disastrous financial venture. 
The record does not disclose any tangible hint as to the way in 
which the Marlboro property came to be acquired by Robert 
Richard Randall, further than the fact that it Avas conveyed to 
him by William Alston, who was a Georgetown planter owning 
large tracts of land in Marlboro County, and was the father of 
Joseph Alston, afterwards Governor of South Carolina, from 
whom, so the records state, William Alston received this tract of 
land by conveyance. It seems to have been originally granted to 
James Maxwell in 1736, by him conveyed to Robert Hunt and 
conveyed by William Parker and Robert Quash, executors of the 
last will of Robert Hunt to Joseph Alston, and by him to Wil- 



BY D. D. McCOLL 19 

liam Alston. Of course, it is possible that this Joseph Alston was 
not GoA'ernor Alston, but some other member of the family bear- 
ing the same name. It would be interesting to know the social 
or business connection which brought about the sale of this land 
by William Alston to Eobert Richard Randall. It may have been 
that old Thomas Randall, as a sea-faring man and privateers- 
man, was frequently in Georgetown, and that in this way some 
connection sprang up between his son and the Alston family, 
which was even then one of great social and business prominence 
in this section of South Carolina. It may be that the connection 
with Randall arose in New York by reason of the well known 
aiRliation of Governor Joseph Alston with the social life of that 
city. It will be recollected that it was he who married Theodosia, 
the only child of Aaron Burr. Her life closed in a mysterious 
tragedy of the sea, which has never been cleared up by time. The 
pathetic picture of the broken-hearted and unfortunate father 
peering out to sea for the return of the idolized daughter is one 
whose mournful beauty has been frequently told. 

The two witnesses to the deed from Randall to Poellnitzr were' 
William Livingston and Brockholst Livingston, both of whom 
were highly distinguished characters in American history. The 
former was then, or afterwards. Governor of New Jersey, and 
had been a delegate to the first Continental Congress in 1774. 
His wife was a daughter of the Revolutionary general, Schuyler, 
and his daughter became the wife of John Jay, Chief Justice of 
the United States. Brockholst Livingston was a son of Governor 
William Livingston, of New elersey, and was also a Justice of the 
Supreme Court of the United States. The deed was probated on 
the 9th day of June, 1790, before Richard Morris, who describes 
himself in his certificate as Chief Justice of New York State. 
There is also appended to it a certificate signed by Judge Aedanus 
Burke, of South Carolina, to the effect that Richard Morris, 
Chief Justice of New York, in his presence, attached his certifi- 
cate to the said deed. Thus, it will be seen that one of the deeds 
closing out this transaction was executed in the presence of some 
of the most distinguished gentlemen of New York State, and 
that either by chance or design, a South Carolina judge was pres- 
ent at the conclusion of the transaction and participated therein. 
All of these circumstances indicate that this trade was out of the 
ordinary, either by reason of its intrinsic importance, or on 
account of the social position of those who were concerned in it. 



20 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

The true explanation will perhaps never be known with cer- 
tainty, but it is not improbable that Baron Poellnitz, as a foreign 
nobleman who had volunteered his services in aid of the strug- 
gling colonies, occupied a position in New York of unique and 
romantic distinction, and that he was constantly associated with 
the most prominent citizens of that comnnmity. Thus, in this 
transaction, involving perhaps the necessity of legal advice, it 
was natural that he should turn to the distinguished lawyers with 
whom he was probably on terms of daily intimacy. It is rather 
difficult to account for the presence and participation of Aedanus 
Burke, a South Carolina judge, unless it be supposed that he had 
in some way been instrumental in inducing Baron Poellnitz to 
become a citizen of South Carolina. Many traditions and stories 
yet preserve the quaint characteristics of this witty Irishman, 
who, after coming from the West Indies to serve as a volunteer 
in the American army, was elected as one of the first judges in 
this State in 1778. It is stated that he was an irrepressible politi- 
cian and a strong anti-federalist. While he was a judge he also 
served as a member of Congress, and when the government 
was first organized under the Federal Constitution, he was 
elected to the United States Senate. In fact, the law now of 
force prohibiting a judge from leaving the State without permis- 
sion granted by the Chief Justice, is said to have had its origin 
in an Act of the Legislature passed to prevent Judge Burke from 
taking his seat in Congress. It is probable that the original Act 
required the consent of the Legislature. There is probably little 
doubt of the fact that Judge Burke was not only a political fol- 
lower of Colonel Aaron Burr, but that he Avas on terms of close 
friendship with that distinguished citizen of New York. It is 
stated that on one occasion Judge Burke was serving as Colonel 
Burr's second in a duel, and that in loading the pistol, the cus- 
tomary duty of the second, he did not ram the bullet down on the 
powder. Colonel Burr, who observed this, protested against it, 
as the pistol could not shoot in that condition. Judge Burke, in 
his tyi^ical Irish manner, replied: "Never mind, colonel, don't 
bother, the gentleman is waiting on you now, and the next thne 
I will grease the patching." 

Owing to the relations that are known to have existed between 
Colonel Burr and the Alston family of South Carolina, who 
owned this tract of land, and to the fact that another intimate 
friend of Colonel Burr's was present in the person of Judge 



BY D. D. McCOLL 21 

Burke, it is perhaps not unreasonable to suspect that the influ- 
ence, either of the Alstons or of Colonel Burr, carried Judge 
Burke to New York at the particular time this trade was to be 
consummated. 

The foregoing recitals give the few known facts respecting 
Baron Poellnitz prior to the time he moved to South Carolina. 
It is impossible to refrain from some speculation as to the cir- 
cumstances which brought about a land trade in which so many 
distinguished men appear to have participated and the result of 
which was to divest a distinguished foreigner of property which 
afterwards became immensely valuable, and to bring him to spend 
his few remaining years in a lonely and primitive community. 
The lands acquired by Baron Poellnitz were then, and are now, 
swamp bottoms, whose value, as compared to that of "Minto," is 
nothing. It is impossible, in the absence of more facts regarding 
the transaction, to understand upon what theory Baron Poellnitz 
was willing to exchange a highly cultivated estate, even though 
it was small, situate in or near the city that was even then 
almost the metropolis of America, for a large tract of swamp 
land, which even at the present time, has practically no market 
value. It is, of course, possible that Baron Poellnitz was not 
informed as to the real character of the land he was about to 
acquire, or he may have believed that it was capable of being 
developed into a vast landed estate, which, when stocked with 
slaves, would be more commensurate with the dignity of his 
birth and social standing, than the small tract in New York con- 
taining less than twenty-five acres. The circumstances that sur- 
round this remarkable trade are now shrouded in an obscurity, 
which modern curiosity cannot penetrate. A plausible theory 
might be that Baron Poellnitz had left the old world for the 
purpose of escaping its artificial society and convention, and that 
he gladly seized the opportunity of building a new home for him- 
self in the solitudes of the South Carolina forests. A few 
glimpses above given of his life in New York do not indicate that 
he was a man of peculiar or eccentric type, nor do the traditions 
of his sojourn in Marlboro County disclose any of the qualities 
which are generally associated with the hermit disposition. Baron 
Poellnitz, so far as the available evidence shows, was a normal 
man, fond of society and deeply interested in the study and 
development of agriculture. There is probably small doubt of 
the fact that he considered that he Avas making a trade which 



22 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

would enable him to effectuate the chief objects he had in view; 
that is, of farming upon a large scale and working out upon a 
rich, virgin soil the problems of agriculture. Whatever may have 
been the cause of, and the circumstances surrounding his removal 
to South Carolina, he came some time after 1790 and before 1792. 
According to tradition, Baron Poellnitz came up from George- 
town to his new home and transported his household property in 
a large boat. No signs remain of his habitation, but his planta- 
tion, or a part of it, was then and is now known as "Ragtown." 
The origin of this name is not known, but it is probable that it 
was applied to the plantation before its purchase by Baron Poell- 
nitz. In fact, it has been stated by those who live in the vicinity, 
that the old baron was led to believe by the name of his proposed 
purchase, that it was a seat or near the seat of a town already 
laid out, and that one of his objects was to engage in commercial 
pursuits. If any design was ever entertained by the baron or his 
predecessors to build a town upon this spot, it was never realized, 
for the place remains to this day a swampy waste in which no 
white men dwell. It is a well known fact that there was a prom- 
inent family in South Carolina bearing the name of Wragge 
before and after the Revolutionary War. The records of Marl- 
boro County disclose the fact that members of this family living 
in Georgetown, owned land in Marlboro County, but there is 
nothing to indicate that any of the lands acquired by Baron Poell- 
nitz were ever owned by members of this family. Whether some 
early promoter beheld the vision of a town upon this spot and 
named it before it took form in honor of the Wragge family and 
the name afterwards became cornipted into Ragtown, or whether 
the name arose from some other association, tradition does not 
disclose. Some time before the year 1792, Baron Poellnitz, his 
family and his possessions, were conveyed by boat from George- 
town to the new home at Ragtown, in Marlboro County. He 
soon acquired other land in the vicinity. On March 17, 1792, he 
purchased from George Herriott and his wife, Sarah, of George- 
town, 487 acres, being part of a grant to John Newberiy in 1776, 
and bounded by lands granted to John Newberry, Andrew Stan, 
Roger Pouncey and Aaron Pearson. He purchased Caney Island, 
containing 76 acres, from Moses Pearson, to whom it had been 
granted by Governor William Moultrie in 1785. It is also prob- 
able, though there does not appear to be any record of the fact, 
that Baron Poellnitz himself became the grantee of other tracts 



BY D. D. McCOLL 23 

of land from the State of South Carolma. In those days land 
was very cheap — much of it was "vacant land," as it was called, 
and a grant for it could be easily obtained. 

Nothing whatever is knowm of the domestic life of Baron Poell- 
nitz prior to his arrival in Marlboro County. It is not known 
whether he brought his first wife with him or whether she died 
subsequent to his arrival. There is probably no doubt of the 
fact that all of his children, whose names are now^ known, were 
born of a marriage contracted before his removal to Marlboro 
County. But as to the name and antecedents of this first wife, 
nothing is known. Baron Poellnitz had four children. The sons 
were, Charles, Alexander and Julius. The daughter was named 
Wilhelmina Amelia Charlotte. Charles Poellnitz is said to have 
died early in life, without being married. Alexander died unmar- 
ried. Julius married Elizabeth Rogers, a daughter of Colonel 
Benjamin Rogers, one of the most prominent citizens of Browns- 
ville at that time. Wilhelmina Amelia Charlotte Poellnitz, ac- 
cording to the voice of tradition, was a very beautiful and accom- 
plished lady. Considering the fact that she was married thre« 
times, it is safe to assume that the traditionary account of her 
beauty and charm of manner was founded in truth. She first 
married a gentleman bearing the name of Stewart, but no infor- 
mation has been obtained respecting this first husband. There is 
small doubt of the fact that a family of Stewarts lived in 
Brownsville about that time. Her husband may have been 
Charles Stewart, who died in the year 1793. Two sons were cer- 
tainly born of this marriage, one named Charles Frederick Stew- 
art and the other William Alexander Stewart, both of whom 
were minors in 1803, when she, as a widow of Colonel Thomas 
Evans, and in anticipation of her third marriage with Robertson 
Carloss, Esq., conveyed to her two sons certain personal property. 
Her second husband. Colonel Thomas Evans, was probably a man 
of considerable means for his time, and was also probably far 
advanced in years when this marriage w\is celebrated. Colonel 
Thomas Evans was a man of prominence and w^ealth. He had 
served as a soldier of the Revolution, a member of the Legisla- 
ture, and was the father of Judge J. J. Evans, afterwards highly 
distinguished in the public affairs of South Carolina. An old 
marriage license, which is a curiosity within itself, recorded in 
the office -of the Judge of Probate, shows that Colonel Thomas 
Evans and Wilhelmina Amelia Charlotte Stewart were married 



24 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

by the Reverend Joshua Lewis on the 25th day of March, 1800. 
If the happy bridegroom on this occasion was Colonel Thomas 
Evans, the elder, he did not long enjoy matrimonial bliss, for 
the records show that he died prior to November 12, 1800. There 
is probably little room to doubt that this is the same Thomas 
Evans who married Mrs. Stewart, for the reason that Baron 
Poellnitz qualified as one of the administrators of his estate. 
Then, too, an additional circumstance is that another Thomas 
Evans, who was evidently Colonel Thomas Evans, the younger, 
married November 1, 1803, Rebecca DeWitt. The marriage' 
license given to him by Joel Winfield, Esq., ordinary of Marlboro 
County, is also to be found recorded in the office of the Judge of 
Probate. It is not easy to establish the date of the third marriage 
of Wilhelmina Amelia Charlotte Evans to Robertson Carloss, 
Esq. It probably took place about June 7, 1803, for on that date 
Robertson Carloss relinquished all further claims that he might 
thereafter be entitled to in certain personal property which Mrs. 
Evans conveyed to her two sons, Charles Frederick Stewart and 
William Alexander Stewart. Robertson Carloss was a man of 
considerable prominence in the early history of the county. He 
is supposed to have come from Virginia about 1790, and it is 
probable that he was at first, and for several years, a merchant at 
Carlisle, the old court house town. He was there in 1817, and 
conducted business both under the name of Robertson Carloss & 
Co. and Coggeshall & Carloss. He seems to have held several 
positions of honor and trust. He was deputy clerk of court and 
was also elected coroner as early as March 5, 1796. He was for a 
long time the Magistrate of the Brownsville community, and, as 
such, exercised a wide influence. He is supposed to have been 
the writer of the last will of Mason Lee — one of the most remark- 
able documents of that character ever penned in South Carolina. 
About the year 1818 he was elected to the State Senate and 
served for one term. He died about the 5th day of January, 
1827, for on that date his last will was probated. In this instru- 
ment he stated that "it has been my lot in life, through unforeseen 
contingencies, not to realize more than a sufficiency, if that much, 
to pay all my just debts." He had a daughter who married Ben- 
jamin David, and a son, Robertson A. Carloss, who was admitted 
to the practice of law in South Carolina in 1831. It is not known 
whether these two children were born of the marriage with the 
daughter of Baron Poellnitz, nor is anything known of their sub- 



BY D. D. McCOLL 25 

sequent career. It is probable that they both moved to other 
States. The Carloss name is now extinct in this State. 

There is probably little doubt that Baron Poellnitz, either 
before or after his arrival in Marlboro County, married the 
second time a widow named Elizabeth Bayzley. A deed dated 
October 22, 1803, shows that she conveyed to her son, James 
Bayzley, a youth of seventeen years, certain lands described "as 
second quality river land," which she had inherited from the 
estate of her late husband. Baron Poellnitz. The Bayzley name, 
with the exception of these two individuals, has never been known 
in Marlboro County, and it is, therefore, just as likely that she 
married Baron Poellnitz before his arrival as it is that the mar- 
riage took place subsequent thereto. Elizabeth Poellnitz, after 
the death of Baron Poellnitz, married Thomas Hodges. A deed 
dated December 13, 1809, recorded in Book GG, page 113, shows 
that on that date she was the wife of Thomas Hodges. Julius 
and Alexander Poellnitz, the sons of the baron, continued to live 
on the lands inherited from their father until about the year 1838, 
when, along with many other Marlboro families, they joined the 
tide of emigration that was flowing southward and westward. 
This family went to Marengo County, Ala., the same county 
which also received the family of Charles Irby, of Brownsville. 
The Poellnitz family, in considerable numbers, still continues to 
reside in Alabama. It is a great disappointment not to be able 
to know more of the family and descendants of the beautiful 
Wilhelmina, who was so many times sought in marriage, and the 
charm of whose personality has been preserved in tradition. 

Robertson A. Carloss, a son of Robertson Carloss, seems to 
have married Louisa Covington, a daughter of Henry H. Coving- 
ton, for on the 14th day of January, 1830, a marriage agreement 
was entered into between them. The trustees, to whom the prop- 
erty of Louisa Covington was conveyed, by the terms of this 
deed, were Charles A. Poellnitz and John J. Stubbs. It is likely 
that Charles A. Poellnitz was a son of Julius Poellnitz. There is 
probably no doubt of the fact that Baron Poellnitz was a culti- 
vated and educated man. He was interested in scientific studies, 
especially in their relation to agriculture. In the author's posses- 
sion are three old books which appear to have belonged to Baron 
Poellnitz. Two of them, "Annual Registers" for the years 177.5- 
1778, have a few notes in his handwriting showing his intelligent 
interest and appreciation of the scientific section of this book. 



26 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

The other book is an old copy of the Public Laws of South Caro- 
lina, containing the autograph of Baron Poellnitz. It has been 
stated that his name, before coming to America, was Von Poell- 
nitz, but there is no indication of his ever using "Von" after his 
arrival in America. 

The old baron spent the few years of life left to him, after his 
arrival in Marlboro County, on his Ragtown place. It has been 
said that w^hile he was still living, a traveler from New York 
informed him of the great increase of value in the land he had 
owned there, and advised him to make an effort to recover it. His 
reply, according to tradition, was : that "the value of the land had 
been increased by the increase of population, and that as he had 
not caused that, he had no right to claim any benefit from it." 
It is said that he brought to Marlboro County many strange 
seeds and plants and that he endeavored, by experimentation, to 
develop agriculture along new lines. The tradition in Marlboro 
County is that it was he who first introduced nut grass, which 
has since grown to be one of the sore trials wdth which farmers 
in this section have to contend. Bishop Gregg, however, stated 
that nut grass was growing on the Ragtown plantation while it 
was owned by William Alston. When Baron Poellnitz realized 
that his time had come to die, he conjured his friends not to per- 
mit his body to be buried until red-hot irons had been applied to 
the bottom of his feet. Further, that an oak tree should be 
planted at the head of his grave in order that the dust of his body 
might be drawn up into it and thus not be found upon the day 
of the general resurrection. Whether there is any basis of fact 
for these old tales which have persisted in community gossip, no 
one now knows, but only a few years ago the old people of the 
community pointed out a majestic oak as the one that had been 
planted in obedience to the dying injunction of the old baron. 
Beneath its protecting boughs, amid the silence and solitude of 
a primeval swamp, slumber the earthly remains of this unique 
and romantic character of the long ago. The cause of his 
removal from his native land we do not know, but in the virgin 
soil of the new world he planted strange seeds and devoted his 
trained intelligence to the problem now of so much importance to 
mankind — the development of agriculture. 

Note — The following facts are taken from a book entitled "The Descendants of 
Colonel Alexander McAllister, Etc.," written by Rev. David McAllister : 

Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Col. Benjamin Rogers of Marlboro County, mar- 
ried Julius Poellnitz, .son of Baron Poellnitz. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 27 

Issue : 

1. Charles Augustus, born 1807, died 1891. 

2. Julius Edwin, M. D., born . died 1875. 

3. Margaret Elizabeth, born 1817, died 1865. 

4. Benjamin Bruns, born 1822. 

General Charles Augustus Poellnitz married Mary Peay of Fairfield County, S. C. 
Issue : 

1. Mary Euphradia, born 1833, died 1863. 

2. Eliza Rosalie, born 1835, died 1881. 

3. Ellen Florence, born 1839, died 1893. 

4. Charles Augustus, Jr., born 1840. 

5. Ida Celeste, born 1841. died 1850. 

6. Caroline DeBondely, died infancy. 

7. Josephine DeBondely, born 1844, died 1882. 

8. Stella Octavia, born 1848. 

9. Julia Wilhclmina Brandonstein, born 1849. 
10. Evie Ludwig, born 1853. 

General Charles Augustus Poellnitz was born September 1, 1807, in Marlboro 
District, S. C. ; graduated at South Carolina College ; studied law with Hon. W. C. 
Preston ; removed to Linden, Marengo County, Alabama, in 1835. ... He died 
January 25, 1891. . . . 

Julius Edwin Poellnitz, M. D., married Mary Rembert. 
Issue : 

1. Julius Rembert. 

2. Edwin Augustus, born 1832, died 1865. 

3. Mary L. Poellnitz, born 1837, died 1838. 

4. James Alexander Poellnitz, born 1840, died 1865. 

5. Mary Elizabeth Poellnitz, born 1840 (?), died 1893. 

6. Sidney Caleb Poellnitz, born 1840. 

7. Sarah Louise Poellnitz, born 1846. 

8. Julia Ann Irby Poellnitz, born 1848. 

The above is only part of pedigree given in Rev. David McAllister's admirable 
book. 



THE THOMAS FAMILY. 

The Thomas family of Marlboro County and the adjoining 
counties in North Carolina seems undoubtedly to be descended 
from Christopher Thomas, who emigrated from Caermarthen, 
Wales, about the year 1640 and settled in Talbot County, Mary- 
land. In 1638 he was elected as one of the two members of the 
House of Burgesses for Kent County, which was a high honor 
when it is considered that it was not only the first legislative 
assembly, but also that Kent County comprised the entire East- 
ern Shore of Maryland at that time. Christopher Thomas mar- 
ried a widow named Elizabeth Higgins. Their only child was a 
son, Tristram Thomas, who also seems to have been a man of 
local prominence for he was appointed a commissioner to improve 
trade in Talbot County in 1685. 

Christopher Thomas, emigrant, m. Elizabeth Higgins. 

Issue : 
Tristram Thomas m. Anne Coursey. 

Issue : 

1^ Thomas Thomas, m. Elizabeth. 

2. Christopher Thomas. 

3. Tristram Thomas. 

4. William Thomas, m. Jean. 

5. July Thomas, m. John King. 
6 Stephen Thomas. 

7. Four other daughters, names unknown. 

1^ Thomas Thomas, m. Elizabeth. 

Issue : 
1. Edmond Thomas. 
2\ Tristram Thomas, died Feb. 11, 1746. 
3. Thomas Thomas. 

2^ Tristram Thomas, second son Thomas and Elizabeth 
Thomas. 
Issue : 
1. Penelope Thomas, born Feb. 9, 1699 ; m. Jarman. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 29 

2. Juliana Thomas, born August 20, 1703. 

3^ Stephen Thomas, born May 28, 1705 ; m. Mary. 

4. Anna Thomas, born March 10, 1708; m. Jarman. 

5. Tristram Thomas, born March 26, 1710. 

6. Simon Thomas, born July 10, 1712. 

7. Sarah Thomas, born Feb. 18, 1711. 

8. William Thomas, born Nov. 30, 1717. 

9. Philemon Thomas, born Dec. 19, 1720. 

10. Benjamin Thomas, born March 10, 1725. 

3a. Stephen Thomas, third son of Tristram Thomas (2^), m. 
Mary. 
Issue : 
1. Sarah Thomas, born Nov. 29, 1731. 
2b. Robert Thomas, born Sept. 26, 1733. 
3b. Stephen Thomas, born May 25, 1736. 
4. Mary Thomas, born July 17, 1738; m. Primrose. 
5^ William Thomas, born Jan. 31, 1741. 
6^ John Thomas, born June 16, 1743. 

7. Susan Thomas, born Oct. 31, 1745. 

8. Elizabeth Thomas, born March 18, 1747. 

9. Lewis Thomas, born May 10, 1750. 
10^ Tristram Thomas, born July 28, 1752. 

11. Philemon Thomas, born July 31, 1754. 
12.4b. Benjamin Thomas, born July 18, 1756. 
13.5b. James Thomas, born June 25, 1758. 

2b. Robert Thomas, 1st son Stephen Thomas (3^), m. Mary 
Sands of Virginia and emigrated to Marlboro 
County about 1750. 
Issue : 

1. Tristram Thomas, born Aug. 24, 1757; died 1767. 

2. Elizabeth Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1759. 

3^. *Nathan Thomas, born July 22, 1762 ; died Sept. 27, 1842. 

4. Sarah Thomas, born July 12, 1765 ; died Sept. 27, 1842. 

5^. John Thomas, born May 6, 1768 ; died May 15, 1834. 

6. Lucy Thomas, born May 12, 1770 ; m. Covington. 

7^. Robert Thomas, born April 26, 1773 ; m. April 18, 1847. 

8*=. Elijah Thomas, born March 28, 1775; m. 

9<=. William Thomas, born July 25, 1777 ; died Oct. 4, 1835. 

•A Revolutionary soldier. 



30 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

10. Jesse Thomas, born March 12, 1780. 

11. Eli Thomas, born Jan. 21, 1783; died 1854. 

12. Benjamin Thomas, born Feb. 19, 1786; died 1815 or 1816. 

5^ William Thomas, 5th son Stephen Thomas (3^), was born, 
as shown above, January 31, 1741; died in 1800, and is buried 
near his place of residence, two miles southeast of Blewits's 
Falls, Richmond County, N. C. Was a man of considerable 
prominence in his day. Served as a member of the Continental 
Congress of North Carolina in 1774 and 1775. Probably married 
twice. Name of second wife, Rachel Roe. This William Thomas 
was distinguished from other men bearing same name by the 
nickname of "Ram Billy.'' 
Issue : 
IK William Thomas, born in 1762 ; died in 1834. 

2. Esther Thomas, born in 1763 ; m. H. J. Thomas. 

3. Stephen Thomas, born in 1765. 

4. Elizabeth Thomas, born in 1767; m. Henry Thomas. 

5. John Thomas, born in 1769. 

6. Henry Thomas, born in 1770. 

7. Nathan Thomas, born in 1772. 

8. Sarah Thomas, born in 1773. 

9. George Thomas, bom in 1774. 
10. Rachel Thomas, born in 1776. 

6^ John Thomas, 6th son of Stephen Thomas (3^), was born, 
as shown above, June 16, 1743; probably moved West in 1776, 
and became ancestor of a large family in Ohio, Indiana and other 
States. Married Molly Clark, daughter of Francis Clark, son of 
Isaac Clark. 

Issue : 

1. Isaac Thomas, m. Rachel Knight. 

2. John Thomas, m. Lydia Sneed. 

3. Bettie Thomas, m. Moses Mendenhall. 

4. Mary Thomas, died two years old. 

5. Rebecca Thomas, died two years old. 

6. Elijah Thomas, m. Susannah Sneed. 

7. Stephen Thomas, m. Hannah Mendenhall. 

8. Francis Thomas, m. Lydia Woodward. 

9. Benjamin Thomas, m. Anna Moorman. 
10. Christian Thomas, m. Thomas Knight. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 31 

11. Susannah Thomas, died young. 

12. Sarah Thomas, m. Charles Baldwin. 

10^ Tristram Thomas, the tenth son of Stephen Thomas (3^), 
was born, as above shown, July 28, 1752; died September 3, 1817, 
and is buried at old Saw Mill Church in Marlboro County, S. C. 
His career was useful and distinguished. Appended will be 
found a sketch of his life by D. D. McColl, of Bennettsville, S. C. 
His first wife was Mary Hollingsworth. His second wife, Anne 
Pledger; his third wife, Mary Harry. 
Issue : 

1. Robert T. Thomas. 

2. Joseph Thomas. 

3. Elizabeth Thomas, m. Joseph Burch. 

4. John Thomas. 

5. Tristram Hollingsworth Thomas. 

6. James C. Thomas, Clerk of Court, Marlboro County, S. C. 

3"^. Stephen Thomas, third son of Stephen Thomas (3^), was 
born, as above shown, May 25, 1736, and probably is ancestor of 
issue hereinafter named. Though it is possible that said issue 
may be descended from one of the other two sons of Stephen (3^), 
to wit, Benjamin (4"^), or James (5''). 
Issue : 
1^. Daniel Thomas, m. Mary Covington, Richmond County, 
N. C. Died about 1810 or 1825. 

3«=. Nathan Thomas, second son of Robert Thomas (2''), was 
born, as above shown, July 22, 1762. Died September 27, 1842. 
Married first to Nancy Bingham, April 3, 1783; second, Celia 
Stuart, June 1st, 1811. 
Issue : 

1. Nathan B. Thomas, born Oct. 4, 1785. 

2. John P. Thomas, born Dec. 18, 1787. 

3. Elizabeth Thomas, born April 26, 1795 ; died July 31, 1825. 

4. Lewis Thomas, born Aug. 11, 1796. 

5. Anna Thomas, born Jan. 9, 1799. 

6. Joel Thomas, born July 25, 1801. 

7. Philip Thomas, born Feb. 18, 1805. 

8. Celia S. Thomas, born Jan. 25, 1808. 



32 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

5<=. John Sands Thomas, the fifth son of Eobert Thomas (2'^), 
was born, as above shown, May 6, 1768 ; died May 15, 1834. This 
is the man who owned all the land upon which the town of Ben- 
nettsville, S. C, now rests. He donated the present Court House 
site and public square of Marlboro County, S. C, by deed dated 
4th day of April, 1820, recorded in Book of Deeds K, page 117. 
He married Elizabeth Bingham, daughter of Thomas Bingham. 
Issue : 

1. Henry Thomas. 

2. Horace B. Thomas. 

3. Harriett E. Thomas. 

4. Ann Elizabeth Thomas. 

5. Julia Ann Thomas. 

6. Joseph P. Thomas. 

7. Lucinda S. Thomas, m. Jason McDaniel. 

7«=. Eobert H. Thomas, seventh son of Robert Thomas (2^), 
was born, as above shown, April 26, 1773; died April 18, 1843. 
Married, first, a Miss Covington or a Miss Dockery. Second 
wife, Dinah David. 
Issue : 

1. John Thomas. 

2. Elizabeth Thomas. 

3. John Thomas. 

4. Miss Thomas, m. Preston Covington. 

8^ Elijah Thomas was the eighth son of Eobert Thomas (2^), 
was born, as above shown, March 28, 1775. Married a Miss 
Pearson. 

Issue : 
1. Eobert Thomas. 

9^=. William Thomas was the ninth son of Eobert Thomas (2''), 
and was born, as above shown, July 25, 1777. Died October 4, 
1835. First Avife was Frances Magee. Second wife, Eleanor 
Evans. 

Issue by first wife, Frances Magee : 

1. James M. Thomas, m. Pamelia Morrow of Charlotte, N. C. 

2. Henry A. Thomas, m. in Louisiana. 

3. Hartwell Ayer Thomas, died unmarried. 

4. Nathaniel Thomas, m. Julia A. Thomas; 2nd, Alabama 

lady. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 33 

5. Mary Ann Thomas, m. Joseph M. Thomas of North Caro- 

lina. 

6. Elizabeth Thomas, died unmarried. 

7. Margaret Thomas, m. John Covington of North Carolina. 

8. Frances Thomas, or Robt. Thomas, died unmarried. 

9. William Thomas, died unmarried. 

Issue by second wife, Eleanor Evans: 
IR. J. A. W. Thomas, born Dec. 31, 1822; died Aug. 2, 1896; 
m. Margaret Spears. 

2. Benjamin R. Thomas, born Feb. 8, 1825, m. Margaret J. 

Thomas. 

3. Frances Jane Thomas, born March 31, 1827, m. M. Huger 

Adams of Marion. 

4. David Evans Thomas, born Jan. 22, 1830, m. Eliza Thomas 

of Alabama. 

5. Susan C. Thomas, born Aug. 27, 1833, m. J. A. Thomson 

of Alabama. 

Eli Thomas, the eleventh son of Robert Thomas (2''), was born, 
as above shown, January 21, 1783. Died in 1854, at the age of 
71 years. Married, first, a Miss Dockery; second, a Miss Hamer, 
and his third wife was Mrs. Fannie Dudley Harrison. 
Issue by first wife : 
1. Robert D. Thomas. 

Issue by second wife : 

1. Mary Thomas, m. McDaniel. 

2. Thomas, m. Robert Covington. 

3. Thomas, m. W. B. Alford. 

1^. Daniel Thomas, son of Stephen Thomas (3''), or Benjamin 
Thomas (4'') or James Thomas (5^), married Mary or Sarah 
Covington of Richmond County, N. C, a daughter of John Cov- 
ington and his wife, Hannah Dockery. This Daniel Thomas was 
a Revolutionary soldier and probably died in 1810, though it has 
been stated that he died in 1825. 
Issue : 
1^ Elijah Thomas, m. Rachel Roe Thomas, widow Wm. 

Thomas (5^). 
2. Daniel Thomas, born 1776, m. Nancy M. Moorehead, aunt 
of Governor J. M. Morehead. 



34 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

3^ Heniy Thomas, bom 1778, m. Esther Thomas, daughter 

Wm. Thomas (5^). 
4. John Thomas, died unmarried. 

5J. William C. Thomas (Club-foot), m. Sally Williams. 
6J. Dr. Robert S. Thomas, m. Mary Pouncey, daughter of 

Maj. James Pouncey and Anne Kolb. 

7. Benjamin Thomas, died unmarried. 

8. Susan Thomas, m. Stephen Pankany. 
9J. Priscialla Thomas, m. Simon Thomas. 

10. Reuben Thomas, m. William Blewitt. 

11. Benjamin Thomas, died unmarried. 

8^. Francis Thomas, the eighth son of John Thomas (6*), mar- 
ried Lydia Woodward. 
Issue : 
1. Mary Thomas, m., first, Ahira Ballard, second, Eli Hadley. 

Xo children. 
28. Luke Thomas, m. Mildred Fulghum. 

3. Sarah Thomas, m. Joseph Hubbard. 

4. Absillit Thomas, m. Roland Green. 

5. John Thomas, m. Smithy Newsome. 

6. Francis W. Thomas, m. Rebecca Corbett. 

7. Alice Parker Thomas, m. Elliott Houser. 

8. Isaac Thomas, m. Mahalah Hadley. 

9. Clarkson Thomas, m. Sarah Jane Pitts. 

This family lived in the West. 
1^ Elijah Thomas, first son of Daniel Thomas (1^), married 
Rachel Roe, who was the widow of William Thomas (5*), Ram 
Billy. 

Issue : 

1. Henry Thomas, m. Nancy Love. 

2. Holcomb Thomas. 

3. Miss Thomas, a daughter. 

2^ Daniel Thomas, second son of Daniel Thomas (1^), m. 
Nancy M. Morehead, who was a daughter of John Morehead, 
and aunt of Governor tlohn M. Morehead of North Carolina. 
Issue : 

1. Joseph M. Thomas, m. Mary A. Thomas. 

2. Elizabeth Thomas, m. James M. Morehead. 

3. Preston Thomas, m. Miss Morehead. 

4. Daniel Claiborne Thomas. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 35 

3^ Henry Thomas, third son of Daniel Thomas (1«), married 
Esther Thomas, (hui«;hter of William Thomas (o^), (Ram Billy) 
and his wife, Kaohel Roe Thomas. 
Issue : 

1. Daniel M. Thomas. 

2. William M. Thomas. 

3. Henry Thomas, married. 

4. Elijah Thomas, m. Miss Williams. 

5. Joseph Thomas. 

6. Robert T. Thomas, m. Anne Catherine Earikson. 

7. John Thomas, died unmarried. 

8. Rachel Thomas. 

9. Amanda Thomas. 

10. Harriett. 

11. Catherine N. 

5J. William C. Thcmias (Club-foot), fifth son of Daniel 
Thomas (1^), married Sallie Williams. 
Issue : 

1. Elizabeth, died young. 

2. Abner, did not marry; moved to Louisiana. 

3. Benjamin, m. Miss Williams of Louisiana. 

4. Sarah Anne, did not marry; died in Louisiana. 

5. Jane Thomas, did not marry; died in Louisiana. 

6. John C, married in Arkansas; died there. 

7. William C, did not marry ; died in iVrkansas. 

2s. Luke Thomas, first son of Francis Thomas (8^), married 
Mildred Fulghum. 
Issue : 

1. Mezany Thomas, m. Franklin Haisley. 

2. Joseph Thomas, m. first, Annie Jane Hill; second, 

3. Sarah Thomas, m. Elwood Canada. 

4. William Thomas, m. Jenny Hadley. 

5. Mary A. Thomas, m. Amassa Jenkins. 

6. Lyda Thomas, m. James Hadley. 

7. Michael L. Thomas. 

This family lived in the West. 

Sarah Thomas, second daughter of Francis Thomas (8*), mar- 
ried Joseph Hubbard. 



36 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Issue : 

1. Jehiel Hubbard, m. Jane Price. 

2. William Hubbard, m. Amand Chinaweth. 

This family lived in the West. 

Absillit Thomas, third daughter of Francis Thomas (8«), mar- 
ried Roland Green. 
Issue : 

1. William Green, deceased, 

2. Mary Jane Green, deceased. 

3. Clarkson Green, deceased. 

This family lived in the West. 

John Thomas, second son of Francis Thomas C8^), married 
Smithy New some. 
Issue : 

1. Luke Thomas, m., first, Hunter; second, Newlin. 

2. Sarah Thomas, deceased. 

3. John N. Thomas, deceased. 

4. Clarkson Thomas, m. Perishaw. 

5. Lydia Thomas, m, Jehu Millhouse. 

This family lived in the West. 

Francis W. Thomas, third son of Francis Thomas (8^), mar- 
ried Rebecca Corbett. 
Issue : 
1. Jeremiah M. Thomas, m. Luzena Johnson. 
This family lived in the West. 

Alice Parker, fourth daughter of Francis Thomas (8^), mar- 
ried Elliott Houser. 
Issue : 

1. Eli Houser. 

2. Nuna Houser. 

3. Bertha Houser. 

This family lived in the West. 

Isaac Thomas, fourth son of Francis Thomas (8^), married 
Mahaleh Hadley. 
Issue : 
1. Marshall Thomas, m. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 37 

2. Barcley Thomas, m. Miss Rash. 

3. Marietta Thomas, m. John Townsend. 

4. Eli Thomas. 

5. Woodrow Thomas, deceased; no issue. 

6. Frank Thomas. 

This family lived in the West. 

Clarkson Thomas, fifth son of Francis Thomas (8^), married 
Sarah Jane Pitts. No issue. 
This family lived in the West. 

6J. Dr. Robert Thomas, sixth son of Daniel Thomas (1^), mar- 
ried Mary Pouncey, daughter of Major James Pouncey and Sara 
Kolb. 

Issue : 
Perhaps William Thomas, m. Miss Kates of Wilmington, 
N. C. 

9J. Priscilla Thomas, second daughter of Daniel Thomas (1^), 
married her cousin, Simon Thomas. 

Issue : : 

1. James. ' 

2. Rachel, m. Hampton Covington. ' 

3. Mary, m. Major George Northam. 

IK William Thomas (Silver Heel), first son of William 
Thomas (Ram Billy, 5*), married, first, Sallie Everett, daughter 
of Lawrence Everett. 
Issue : 

1. Hannah; born 1782, died in infancy. 

2. Rebecca, born 1784, died in infancy. 

3. William, born in 1790, died in infancy. 

4. Mary, m. her cousin, Lawrence C. Everett. 

Second wife of William Thomas (Silver Heel) was Sarah 
Ewing, widow of Samuel Ewing, maiden name, Sarah Tarbut- 
ton. 

Issue : 
1™. John, born 1792, m. Elizabeth Covington, half-sister Mrs. 
Mary Wall. 



Note — After the death of Simon Thomas, the widow, Priscilla, married Owen 
Slaughter. 



38 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

2™. James, born in 1794, m. Charlotte Roper, daughter Thomas 

Roper. 
3™. George, born in 1797, m. Mary Adams of Adamsville. 
4, Rachel, born in 1800, m. Charles Hailley, moved to Indiana 

in 1840. 

1™. John Thomas, first son of William Thomas (I''), (Silver 
Heel), by second marriage with Sarah Ewing, married Elizabeth 
Covington. 

Issue : 

1. James, m. Miss Bolton, daughter of Thomas Bolton. 

2. Calvin, m. Miss Hasty. 

3. Martha, m. Thomas Garrett. 

4. Mary, m. Angus Mclnnis. 
52. Sallie, m. John McKay. 

6. John. 

7. Wesley. 

8. Robert. 

2"^. James Thomas, second son of William Thomas (1\ or 
Silver Heel), by second marriage with Sarah Ewing, married 
Charlotte Roper. 
Issue : 

1. George, m. Miss Terry; born 1821. 

2. George, m. Annie Covington; born 1824. 

3. John W., m. Lucy Smith; born 1825. 

4. Benjamin J., born 1829. 

5. William, born 1827. 

6. Stephen W., born 1830; m. Kate Winston. 

7. Hy. T., born 1833, died in Confederate army, 1861, Co. D, 

Twenty-third Regiment. 

8. Rachel, m. Monroe ; born 1822, died 1845. 

3™. George Thomas, third son of William Thomas (l'^, or Sil- 
ver Heel), by second marriage with Sarah Ewing, married Mary 
Adams of Adamsville, daughter of Shockley and granddaughter 
of Jonathan Adams. 

Mrs. George Adams was a sister of Dr. John Malloy's wife, 
Daniel C. Mclntyre's Avife and Col. Alexander McQueen's first 
wife. 

Note — William Thomas (Ik or Silver Heel) represented Richmond County, 
N. C, in both branches of Legislature in the years 1810-14-16-19-20-21. His son 
George (3 m), was a member of the North Carolina Legislature for the years 
1827-35-36-38. 



BODIFORD MURDER TRIAL. 

From time immemorial there has existed in the popular mind 
a deep-seated prejudice against circumstantial evidence, partic- 
ularly in those cases where human life is involved. The ancient 
writers upon the subject of evidence cite many peculiar and 
remarkable instances in which convictions, based upon this kind 
of evidence, were afterwards shown to have been erroneous. 
Even in modern times, it is sometimes found very difficult to per- 
suade juries to convict in capital cases upon circumstantial 
evidence. This attitude of caution on the part of the juries, 
commendable as it may be, as showing their sense of mercy and 
tender consideration for human life, can hardly be considered to 
be justified in reason, for circumstantial evidence, when properly 
understood and applied, is generally more irresistible to a trained 
intelligence than many forms of primary evidence. In the most 
important concerns of life, the citizen is accustomed to act with 
confidence upon circumstantial evidence, and yet, when he comes 
to sit in the jury box and deliver his judgment of life or death, 
he is prejudiced against this form of testimony and gives a warm 
reception and ready response to the shocking illustrations cited 
by the culprit's counsel, showing the miscarriages of justice that 
may be traced to circumstantial evidence. 

In Marlboro County the juries and the people have shared, and 
continue to share, in the prejudice displayed against circum- 
stantial evidence in other times and among other people. Here, 
as elsewhere, lawyers for the defense, in cases based upon this 
kind of testimony, have denounced in burning language the 
frightful wrongs perpetrated by means of circumstantial evi- 
dence upon falsely accused men. They have adorned and accent- 
uated their argument by well authenticated cases of judicial 
murder attributable to this kind of testimony. 

As a familiar and local illustration can always be used more 
effectively than one drawn from strange and distinct sources, the 
Marlboro County lawyers of former years always pointed out 
the particular injustice inflicted upon Bodiford through circum- 
stantial evidence. The name and sad fate of Bodiford often 
formed the theme of the mournful eloquence of those advocates 
who had an unusually desperate case to defend. To all inquiries 



40 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

for particular information concerning the Bodiford case, no very 
satisfactory response could ever be obtained from those lawyers 
who so freely brandished it as a warning before the horrified 
gaze of innumerable juries. This lack of definite information 
was probably due to the fact that most features of the Bodiford 
case descended only from the lips of tradition and not from any 
recorded narratives. Tradition, however, must be, and is recog- 
nized as one of the legitimate sources of historical truth. Many 
pages of history record the glorious achievements of far distant 
times, which were at first preserved only in the memories of men 
and transmitted from father to son by word of mouth. That the 
event may have become exaggerated Avith the passage of time is 
doubtless true, but that it originally had a basis of fact no reason- 
able man can well deny. So it is with the Bodiford case. Some 
of its features may have been enlarged in the frequent telling, 
but that the forefathers had good ground for their statement — 
that he was proven innocent after his conviction, should not now 
be disputed. That this strange old narrative of Marlboro County 
is now nearly forgotten, is proven by the fact that the last public 
reference to it, so far as this writer recollects, was made by the 
distinguished and lovable Nestor of the Bennettsville bar. It 
seems a pity that it should be consigned to oblivion, for, since 
the name of this unfortunate victim of judicial error is now 
extinct in this community, the recital of the injustice of his fate 
cannot arouse painful sensations in the bosom of his descendants. 
Perhaps the story will in the future save the life of some other 
man unjustly accused. 

The murder charged against Daniel Bodiford was committed 
on Wednesday night, January 25th, 1809, and the scene of the 
crime was probably that part of the county which now lies in 
Red Hill Township, not far from the river and near the old court 
house. The victim was a widow named Betsey Wallis, who lived 
alone not very far from the home of her married sister and her 
husband, with whom she did not seem to be on very pleasant 
terms. In fact, it appears that Betsey Wallis was a rather 
unfortunate and friendless creature of humble life and circum- 
stances, living in a house by herself. It seems that there was 
enmity between her and several of her neighbors, and among the 
others, the two brothers, Daniel and Vincent Bodiford. The 
latter owed Betsey Wallis a debt, which he was unable to pay, 
and under the law, as it stood in those days, Betsey Wallis had 



BY D. D. McCOLL 41 

the right, as creditor, to imprison Vincent until this debt was 
paid. Daniel Bodiford also was known to bear ill will and 
hatred to Betsey Wallis. At a cotton picking gathering, about 
two weeks before the murder, Betsey Wallis had attempted to 
shoot Daniel Bodiford Avith a gun, but was disarmed before she 
accomplished her purpose. He was then heard to say, that it 
would have been better for her if she had killed him, as hie 
intended to kill her. Later on, he was also heard to say that he 
would do something before long that would cause him to leave 
the place, and also, at another time, that she should be whipped, 
and that if she did not let him alone he would give her a dozen 
lashes. It seems also that the married sister of Betsey Wallis, a 
few days before her murder, became very much offended at her 
because she had whipped one of her daughters, and that this 
married sister was heard to declare that she wished some one 
would kill Betsey. Thus, it is seen, that there were many people 
living in the neighborhood who entertained sufficient ill will 
against Betsey Wallis to wish her dead, and many people were 
supposed to entertain sufficient animosity to be the perpetrators 
of the deed. 

Betsey Wallis was killed about two hours after dark. She had 
gone to bed and the murderer fired through the window and the 
trace of his footstep immediately outside the window was plainly 
marked. Several people in the neighborhood heard the report of 
the gim, which was followed by a loud shriek, but it seems that 
no one made any effort to ascertain what had happened until 
early next morning, when Betsey Wallis was found dead on her 
bed with shot scattered around on the floor. The indifference 
that those wiio heard the alarm manifested shows not only the 
forlorn situation of Betsey Wallis, but likewise added strength 
to the general suspicion that several people in the neighborhood 
were concerned in her death. In fact, the suspicion was freely 
expressed at the time, that several people beside Daniel Bodiford 
were implicated. The track outside of the window was found 
to correspond almost exactly with the track of Daniel Bodiford 
and also the track of Vincent Bodiford. It is likely, however, 
that the most damaging fact against Daniel Bodiford was his 
demeanor immediately afterwards. He showed that he realized 
that the circumstances pointed to his guilt, and in a desperate 
effort to free himself, he declared that his brother, Vincent Bodi- 
ford, had committed the crime, that he saw his brother with a 



42 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

shotgun and that he declared his intention to kill Betsey before 
he would go to jail on account of the debt he owed her. This 
declaration of Daniel Bodiford made at the time of the coroner's 
inquest upon the dead body of Betsey Wallis, sounds very pathetic 
after the lapse of so many years, if the view is taken that he was 
an innocent man who in a moment of desperation and weakness 
was willing to incriminate his own brother to save himself. The 
ancient record gives his words as follows : "Daniel Bodiford, 
the supposed murderer of Betsey Wallis, said: that it was hard 
for the truth to come out, but it must come — it was his brother, 
Vincent Bodiford, that shot Betsey Wallis on the 25th instant. 
About one hour in the night I saw^ my brother with a shot gun 
at the fence at his mother's, and he said the gun was loaded with 
an intention to take the life of Betsey Wallis, and before he 
would go to gaol, he would lose his life or kill her." Daniel 
Bodiford, his brother, Vincent Bodiford, and the sister of the 
deceased and her husband, were all indicted for her murder. 
None of them was ever put on trial except Daniel Bodiford. A 
true bill was returned against him at the Spring Term of the 
Court of General Sessions began to be holden at Marlboro Court 
House on the first Monday after the fourth Monday in March, 
1809. The foreman of the Grand Jury was John Wilson. It is 
interesting to observe at this point that Donald McDearmid had 
been chosen as foreman of the Grand Jury, but owing to the 
fact that he was not at that time a naturalized American citizen, 
he was disqualified for service. The presiding Judge of the 
Court was William Smith. Benjamin Rogers was Sheriff and 
John Thomas, Jr., was Clerk of Court. When it is remembered 
that Courts of General Jurisdiction had been held in Marlboro 
County for only nine years, and that this was the first murder 
case ever tried in this county, it will be easy to understand the 
great degree of public interest that was manifested in this trial, 
and also to understand the deep impression afterwards made 
upon the public mind when it was discovered that the first man 
ever hanged in the county had been unjustly condemned. The 
Court convened on Monday and the Grand Jury promptly found 
a true bill. On the following Wednesday, Daniel Bodiford, the 
prisoner, having been arraigned and put to his plea, pleaded not 
guilty and chose to be tried by God and his country. The jury 
that tried and convicted him consisted of William PeGues, fore- 
man, Joseph Thomas, Thomas Weatherly, David Henderson, 



BY D. D. McCOLL 43 

William Easterling, John Smith, Isaac Weatherly, Joseph Gour- 
ley, Edward Eoe, Sr., Roderick McLeod, John McDaniel and 
Solomon McColl. Althoiio;h Solomon McColl was drawn on this 
jury, he did not sit, for the reason that he was not at that time a 
naturalized citizen. It is not known who filled his place on the 
jury. Nothing is known of the testimony presented in this case. 
It is probably certain, however, that the facts and circumstances 
detailed at the coroner's inquest, were again put in evidence and 
found sufficient for conviction. That is, that Daniel Bodiford 
had a deep-seated grievance against the deceased ; that they had 
once had an altercation in which Betsey Wallis attempted to 
shoot Bodiford, and that he then, and afterwards, was heard to 
speak evil of her and threaten her life. In addition, the track 
of the murderer, found outside of the window, was shown to 
correspond with the track of Daniel Bodiford, whose demeanor 
immediately after the discovery of the murder, was such as to 
show, in the opinion of the witnesses, a guilty conscience, and 
probably the strongest circumstances of all in the minds of the 
jury was the desperate effort of the accused to shield himself by 
declaring that his own brother had confessed his intention to 
commit the murder. It is thus seen that probably all of the 
testimony relied upon for a conviction was of a circumstantial 
character, but of a kind that sounds almost irresistible, even after 
the lapse of a century. The impressive sentence of the Court 
was pronounced by Judge William Smith in the following 
language: "That the defendant should be taken from hence to 
the place from whence he came and there be confined until 
Friday, the 28th day of April, instant, on which day he is to be 
taken from the gaol of this District to the Common Gallows and 
there be hung by the neck until he should be dead, dead, dead, 
and may God have mercy on his soul." 

This trial was, of course, had at the old court house near the 
river. As already stated, courts were a new spectacle in this 
county, and it is probable that many people attended the first 
murder trial ever had in the county. The hanging, of course, 
was a public spectacle, attended by hundreds and hundreds of 
people. The old tree under which Bodiford was executed was 
still standing a few years ago and was pointed out as a reminder 
of that solemn and terrible event. That Daniel Bodiford was not 
guilty of the crime charged against him, seems clearly estab- 
lished by the voice of tradition. It is not known at this time 



44 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

whether he had any actual knowledge of or participation in the 
crime, but it is definitely understood that it was not his hand 
that inflicted the stroke of death upon Betsey Wallis. Many 
years afterwards, so tradition relates, a man, whose name was 
not connected with the occurrance at the time, when he lay 
dying, confessed that it was he, and not Daniel Bodiford. who 
slew Betsey Wallis. 

These are the only available facts at this distant time relating 
to the Bodiford murder trial. It is impossible for those of this 
generation to comprehend the powerful impression made upon 
the public mind by this trial, especially when it was afterwards 
discovered that judicial error had been committed. Times then 
were entirely different. People knew little of the outside Avorld 
and few things of interest and excitement came into their lives. 
Court proceedings were awe-inspiring and possessed all the 
attraction of novelty. The few people then living in Marlboro 
County came with eager eyes and ears for the spectacle of a 
murder trial, and after the solemn doom had been pronounced 
upon poor Bodiford, they returned to their homes to discuss the 
trial until the day of execution arrived, at which time a large 
concourse of people from the entire county came to witness the 
final act in the tragic drama, and to treasure up in memory every 
detail surrounding it. Tradition relates that as Bodiford was 
being led through the mass of people gathered there to see him 
that he turned to one in the crowd, called him by name and said : 
"I am dying an innocent man for the crime you committed." 
Whether the man he thus accused was the same one who after- 
wards confessed is not known. 

The tragic and undeserved fate of Bodiford belongs to the 
early history of the county, but it has often been called to mind 
in the trial of murder cases. How many lives have been saved 
by the appeals based on his unjust doom no one knows. But it 
is not at all doubtful that guilty wretches have since owed their 
escape from death or other punishment to the miscarriage of 
justice attributed to the Bodiford trial. • 



SKETCH OF GENX TRISTRAM THOMAS. 

The name of Tristram Thomas, distinguished in the early- 
annals of Marlboro County, is practically unknown to the 
present generation, which enjoys the fruits of the splendid 
sacrifices made by him and his companions in arms. A proper 
respect for the past should characterize every enlightened people, 
and no community can achieve a great destiny which forgets its 
obligation to the pioneers who first laid the foundations upon 
which organized society has been built. The race that has no 
history has no civilization. The community that ceases to revere 
the memory of its patriotic fathers, is lacking in the true elements 
of greatness and will never achieve enduring fame, no matter 
how successful it may prove in the race for commercial 
supremacy. The following sketch of Tristram Thomas is written 
for the purpose of rescuing his name from the undeserved 
oblivion which is about to envelop it, and to preserve the few 
facts that are now known of him and his family. The author 
is conscious of the fact that this sketch of Tristram Thomas is 
very meagre and imperfect, but owing to the lapse of time since 
his death and the extinction of his family in this county, it has 
been impossible to procure any information concerning his 
career, except such as is preserved in fragmentary official records. 
It is hoped, however, that these lines may be read by some of his 
descendants, or others, who will be able to supply more complete 
details of a life which was so largely spent in the service of Marl- 
boro County. 

Tristram Thomas was descended from a family of Welch 
Quakers who came to America about two hundred and fifty years 
ago. His emigrant ancestor, Christopher Thomas, of Caermar- 
then, Wales, came to this country in 1634 and married Elizabeth 
Higgins. The only child of this marriage was a son named 
Tristram Thomas, who married Anne Coursey, and settled in 
Queen Anne County, Maryland. Their eldest son, Thomas 
Thomas, was the father of Tristram Thomas, of Tulley's Neck, 
Queen Anne County, Maryland, and his eldest son, Stephen 
Thomas, was born May 28, 1705. General Tristram Thomas was 
the tenth child born to Stephen Thomas, wiios,e descendants now 
living in Richmond and Marlboro Counties and the western 



46 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

States, are as the sands of the sea for number. Absohitely nothing 
is known of the early life of General Tristram Thomas, which 
was spent, either in Maryland or North Carolina, and possibly 
in both States. Family tradition relates that his father, Stephen 
Thomas, moved from Maryland to the latter State, probably 
Eichmond County, about the year 1750. At all events, a few 
years before the Revolutionary War, probably about the year 
1769, Tristram Thomas followed his eldest brother. Reverend 
Robert Thomas, to Marlboro County. The exact date of his 
arrival in this county cannot now be fixed, but he was certainly 
here in 1770, for in that year, he, along with other patriotic 
citizens of St. David's Parish, subscribed to a public fund for the 
encouragement of domestic manufactures. 

As soon as the long gathering storm of war burst upon the 
colonists, Tristram Thomas, who was then only a youth, embraced 
the patriot cause with all the ardor of his nature, and it is a 
source of profound regret that it is not now possible to give a 
detailed account of his military career. No effort was made to 
record the martial exploits of the Pee Dee soldiers until more 
than half a century had elapsed after their performance, and 
this contemporary neglect resulted in the loss of nearly all his- 
torical knowledge Avhich was not rescued from oblivion by the 
incomparable work of Bishop Gregg. That author's sketch of 
Tristram Thomas, though brief and lacking in detail, is sufficient 
to show that he was a constant and active champion of the 
American cause, and that he performed valuable and distin- 
guished service as a Revolutionary officer. History records that 
the soldiers from the Pee Dee, not only marched to the relief of 
beleagured Charleston, and participated in the pitched battles of 
Eutaw and Camden, but that they were also engaged in the dash- 
ing forays against the Tories under Major Gainey in Marion and 
Captain Campbell in Georgetown. In all of this service, and 
throughout the entire war, Tristram Thomas performed a useful 
and conspicuous part. In 1780, Hicks' Regiment, in which he 
held the rank of major, marched to the relief of Charleston, but 
in spite of all the efforts that were made in behalf of that stricken 
city, it fell before overwhelming British numbers early in the 
year. As a consequence of this unhappy event, the people of 
South Carolina, and particularly of the Pee Dee section, were 
called upon to suffer even more harrowing experiences at the 
hands of their domestic and foreign foes than had alreadv fallen 



BY D. D. McCOLL 47 

to their lot. First a detachment of Light Horse, under the 
infamous Wemys, fell upon the Pee Dee and ravaged its patriotic 
inhabitants with fire and sword. Immediately afterwards a bat- 
talion of the Seventh-first Regiment, composed of the flower of 
the Highland Clans, was stationed on the Pee Dee to over-awe 
the Whigs and reanimate to desperate deeds the drooping spirits 
of the Tories. The presence of this historic British Regiment, 
which had been famous in military annals for over a hundred 
years, naturally encouraged the Tories to renew their bloody 
expeditions and to revenge, by unspeakable outrages, the crushing 
defeats they had already suffered at the hands of their Whig 
neighbors. In these dark and unhappy days Major Thomas was 
a tower of strength to his distressed countrymen, and by his unre- 
mitting and successful efforts for their relief, he won that strong 
public affection which, after the return of peace, delighted to 
express itself in civic honors of the most important character. 

It was about this period, some time in the year 1780, that Major 
Thomas performed one of the most spectacular exploits of his 
military career — the capture of a British detachment at Hunt's 
Bluff. There is probably little doubt that if the truth could be 
known, many other exhibitions of courage, resourcefulness and 
sacrifice would have to be written into his military record. This 
particular achievement, however, possessed enough romantic 
interest for the Whigs to cause them to preserve it in song and 
story, while they consigned to oblivion events of perhaps more 
importance but of less romantic character. The Seventy-first 
Regiment, under Major McArthur, was then encamped at 
Cheraw. His situation, immediately upon the banks of the Pee 
Dee River, proved to be unhealthy and many of his soldiers sick- 
ened and died. McCrady, in describing the incident, says: 
"Knowing of no enemy within many miles, he ventured to send 
about one hundred sick in boats down the Pee Dee to George- 
town, under the care of Lord Nairne and the escort of a detach- 
ment of the Royal militia under Colonel William Henry Mills. 
This Colonel Mills was a physician who had originally been in 
the revolutionary movement, and had been a delegate to the Pro- 
vincial Congress in 1776, but had given in his adhesion at once to 
the British upon their success, and from that time became a deter- 
mined foe to the American cause. 

"Hearing of the projected expedition down the river, a party of 
Whigs, under the lead of James Gillespie, collected at Beding's 



48 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Fields, afterwards Irby's Mills, three miles from Cheraw, and 
determined to surprise it. As they went on, their numbers 
increased, the command being assigned to Major Tristram 
Thomas. In the meantime, wnth the departure of the boats, 
McArthur retreated toward Black Creek. The Whigs fixed upon 
Hunt's Bluff, a point about twenty-five miles below Cheraw, 
between Darlington and Marlborough Counties, for intercepting 
the expedition. A batterj^ of wooden guns was hastily con- 
structed and placed immediately on the bank in a sudden bend 
of the river. In due season, as the slowly moving flotilla 
appeared, a most imposing demonstration was made by the gal- 
lant Thomas, and unconditional surrender demanded. The Brit- 
ish authorities charge that there was absolute treachery on the 
part of the Loyal militia, who, they say, rose in mutiny upon 
Colonel Mills; the American accounts admit that it was not 
improbable that there was an understanding with some of the 
leading men of the party. However this may have been, no 
resistance was attempted, and the capture was effected. At the 
same time a large boat coming up from Georgetown, well stored 
with necessaries for Major McArthur's force, was seized for the 
use of the American army. Colonel Mills succeeded in getting 
away, and made his escape to Georgetown. The other new-made 
British officers of the militia, with the rest of the party, were 
taken prisoners." 

This affair at Hunt's Bluff is the only military contest, rising 
to the dignity of a battle, that history accords to Marlboro 
throughout the revolution. The soldiers of Marlboro played their 
part manfully in battles elsewhere, but, aside from the Hunt's 
Bluff capture, no large conflict is known to have taken place 
within the county. Upon this occasion Major Thomas was ready 
for the duty when it came, and the success that crowned his 
efforts here was probably characteristic of his activities upon 
other more arduous but less romantic fields of warfare. This cap- 
ture of one hundred British soldiers at Hunt's Bluff was regarded 
by Cornwallis, Tarleton and other prominent British officers as 
being of sufficient importance to require considerable explanation 
in their written reports and memoirs. This engagement, fought 
upon Marlboro soil, though McCrady seems to credit it to Dar- 
lington, is the chief event preserved by history of Marlboro 
County in the Revolution, and the name of her own distinguished 



BY D. D. McCOLL 49 

hero, Tristram Thomas, must forever be indissohibly connected 
with it. 

With the beginning of the year 1782, the dawn of peace first 
became faintly visible to the eyes of the sorely distressed people, 
and the thoughts of all naturally turned to the establishment of 
some form of government whereby the fruits of the dearly won 
victor}'^ might be secured and the intolerable evils incident to a 
state of internioene war remedied. Bishop Gregg, in his excel- 
lent and comprehensive history, seems to have given but little 
attention to the legislative gathering which marked the end of 
British sway in South Carolina. In the latter part of the year 
1781, Governor Rutledge issued a proclamation for a session of 
the Legislature to meet at Jacksonboro, in Colleton County, 
where it might be protected by the American army from capture 
at the hands of the British. This Legislature, now known in 
history as the "Jacksonboro Assembly," convened on the 18th day 
of January, 1782. The Senator from St. David's parish was Wil- 
liam Thomas of Marlboro County, while his first cousin. Major 
Tristram Thomas, occupied a seat as one of the Representatives. 
This assembly, composed, as it was, exclusively of the true and 
tried men who had suffered the incredible hardships and per- 
formed the services necessary to wrest complete victory from the 
most powerful nation on earth, has been justly termed the most 
distinguished body of men ever gathered together in South Car- 
olina. McCrady says : "A more distinguished body of men had 
never before, and never after, met in the State of South Caro- 
lina, nor, perhaps, in any State in the Union." The distinguished 
military characters from every section of the State were there. 
Such men as Marion, Sumter, Pickens, Hampton, Bratton and 
numbers of others, who were their equals in patriotism, if not in 
military distinction and ability. The distinguished jurists and 
statesmen were there in the persons of the Eutledges, Pinckneys, 
Lowndes, and others whose names now adorn the proudest pages 
of history. All the surviving signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, and many others, who afterwards occupied the most 
elevated positions in the councils of the State and nation were 
there. To be considered worthy at the age of twenty-nine to 
represent the people composed in the extended territory of Old 
Saint David's Parish in such an assembly of distinguished lead- 
ers as the Jacksonboro Legislature, was a high testimonial of the 
public esteem in which Tristram Thomas Avas held by his coun- 



50 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

trymen. The people just emerging from the horrors of a cruel 
war, were extremely jealous of their new born privileges, and 
they saw to it that no man sat in that body who had not earned 
his right by patriotic services of the most exalted character. 

In November, 1782, was held the first election for members of 
the Legislature after the Treaty of Peace had been signed. Tris- 
tram Thomas was returned as the first Senator from St. David's 
Parish. In this connection it must be remembered that St. 
David's Parish at that time comprised all of the territory now 
embraced in the Counties of Marlboro, Chesterfield and Darling- 
ton. It is impossible to appreciate at the present day the import- 
ant and difficult nature of the duties devolved upon the law- 
making body of a state which had just emerged from a long pro- 
tracted struggle in which it had not been possible to discharge 
the usual functions of organized society. In the tumult of war, 
the courts had been closed and the civil laws had been disre- 
garded. The law of force had alone been respected. Bloodshed 
and rapine, outrage and torture, had been the daily portion of a 
peojDle who now looked with longing eyes for the restoration of 
peaceful methods of adjusting their long standing grievances. 
Upon the first Legislature that assembled after the return of 
peace, was thrust the stupendous task of bringing order out of 
chaos and restoring an orderly administration of the law. Obli- 
gations contracted by debtors before the outbreak of the war were 
still in force, though necessarily disregarded amid the demorali- 
zation of strife. It was now necessary to take steps for pre- 
serving the rights of the creditor without at the same time work- 
ing the destruction of the debtor. The distribution of estates 
belonging to deceased persons was a subject demanding instant 
attention. There w^as no circulating medium with which debts 
could be discharged and commerce sustained. The adjustment 
of relations toward the Tories presented a problem of the most 
vexed character. All of these questions, and many others of equal 
importance, had to be settled by the Legislature first assembled 
after the close of the war. At this time, when the best and wisest 
men were sought for the public service, the eyes of all turned 
to Tristram Thomas as being most worthy of the highest distinc- 
tion within the gift of his parish. 

At the election held in November, 1784, Captain William 
DeWitt succeeded Tristram Thomas as Senator, but a vacancy 
having occurred in the membership of the House during the ses- 



BY D. D. iMcCOLL 51 

sion, Major Thomas was chosen to fill it. In 1785 the Act creat- 
ing Marlboro County and establishing county courts was passed 
by the Legislature. Major Thomas was elected by the Legislature 
as one of the judges for Marlboro County, and was likewise 
selected as one of the commissioners to provide for the erection 
of a court house and jail for the new county. This Act meant 
that the old territorial division known as St. David's Parish, was 
to be dismembered and divided into a number of separate coun- 
ties, of which Marlboro was one. The first session of the county 
court was held on the 17th day of March, 1785, at Gardner's Bluff, 
and imagination fails to depict the pride and satisfaction that 
must have glowed in the faces of the people at the spectacle of 
the first court of any description ever held within the territory 
of Marlboro County. This court convened in or near the home 
of Tristram Thomas, for, as yet, the court house had not been 
erected. For thirteen years in succession, Tristram Thomas con- 
tinued to sit as one of the county court judges for Marlboro 
County. It is not practicable to relate in this sketch the varied 
and important nature of the duties devolved upon the old county 
court of Marlboro. It was not until the year 1789 that the court 
house and jail were finally completed and turned over to the 
county judges. These buildings were erected on two acres of 
land within half a mile of the residence at that time of Tristram 
Thomas, who donated the land to the county by his deed dated 
August 1, 1787. In this connection it is interesting to observe 
the singular coincidence that the two donors of court house sites 
for Marlboro County Avere Tristram Thomas and his nephew, 
John Sands Thomas. 

In May, 1788, a convention assembled in Charleston for the 
purpose of considering the ratification of the United States Con- 
stitution. Tristram Thomas was elected a delegate to this import- 
ant body. In October of the same year he was a member of the 
Legislature, though this fact seems to have been overlooked by 
Captain Thomas in his compilation of the Marlboro members of 
this body. When Marlboro County was created in 1785, it seems 
that no change w^as made in the method of choosing representa- 
tives, but that the three counties, Chesterfield, Darlington and 
Marlboro, still continued to elect their members and Senators 
together. In 1790, hoAvever, a change was made in the method of 
choosing members of the House, and from this time they repre- 
sented the different counties, but the three counties continued to 



52 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

choose two Senators to represent them jointly. In 1794, Tristram 
Thomas was elected one of the two Senators from these three 
counties. Again, in 1796, Tristram Thomas and his first cousin, 
William Thomas, also of Marlboro County, represented the three 
counties. Tristram Thomas was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives from Marlboro County in 1800-1806-1810, and for the 
last time, in 1812, when he was sixty years of age. He served in 
the Legislature, either in one branch or the other, from time to 
time for a period covering thirty-one years. He was elected Sen- 
ator three times and a member of the House six times. His total 
service in the General Assembly of South Carolina extended over 
a period of nineteen years, a record for length of service which 
has never been equalled by any other citizen of the county up to 
the present time. His public career began in 1770 and closed in 
1812, making a period of forty-two years during which he was 
actively and continuously engaged in the performance of import- 
ant public duties. 

Tristram Thomas, however, in addition to his military, judicial 
and legislative services, also served the people in many other 
positions of trust and responsibility. In 1791, he, together with 
such men as William PeGues, Baron Poellnitz, Alexander Mack- 
intosh, and others of that character, served as commissioner to 
improve the navigation of the Pee Dee River. When it is remem- 
bered that the Pee Dee River was at that time practically the 
only avenue of transportation, and the only means of intercourse 
with the outside world, the important nature of this service 
becomes apparent. The report of practically every grand jury 
empanelled at Long Bluff before the Revolutionary War, 
pointed out the necessity of cleaning out the Pee Dee River, but 
nothing was done by the Provincial Government. In 1794 he 
was elected as the first brigadier-general of militia from the 
Pee Dee. At that time military honors naturally stood very 
high in public esteem, and the election of General Thomas to this 
position is a splendid evidence of the high regard in which he 
was held. Bishop Gregg states that Colonel Lemuel Benton, who 
had outranked Thomas in the Avar, was so highly incensed at the 
preference shown to the latter, that he resigned from the militia 
and exhibited warm personal resentment. It is, of course, not 
possible, at this late day, to decide which of these heroes of the 
Revolution was most entitled to receive this honorable reward, 
nor is it possible to trace the course of the unfortunate rupture 



BY D. D. McCOLL 53 

that probably occurred between the two men. Benton was proba- 
bly a man of ardent nature and strong passions. Thomas, on the 
other hand, is said to have been of gentle nature and retiring 
disposition; and it is, therefore, quite probable that Benton, 
though a man of forceful personality, aroused such strong antag- 
onisms that he could not always succeed in his political ambi- 
tions. Modern curiosity cannot now penetrate, if it would, the 
mist of obscurity that surrounds this controversy. It is stated 
that the gazettes of the time show that Tristram Thomas was 
several times a candidate for Congress. He may have opposed 
Colonel Benton, who served from March 4, 1Y93, to March 3, 1799, 
and Benjamin Huger, w^io defeated Benton and served from 
March 4, 1799, to March 3, 1805, or perhaps he opposed Governor 
David E. Williams, who served from March 4, 1805, to March 3, 
1809. Nothing is known of these old political battles, but the 
probability is that General Thomas was not able to cope with his 
opponents as a stump speaker. In 1778, St. David's Academy, a 
noted and much needed school, was formed as a result of the 
donations of the leading citizens of the parish. Tristram Thomas 
subscribed largely for the promotion of this worthy object. It 
may also be observed that again in 1802 he was prominent in pro- 
moting the school facilities of the new and isolated community. 
By an Act of the Legislature passed December 18, 1802, Tristram 
Thomas, William Pledger, Robertson Carloss, John Rogers and 
Edward Crosland were given authority to conduct a lottery for 
the purpose of raising not more than two thousand five hundred 
dollars to establish the Marlboro Academy. The lottery was in 
those days the favorite method adopted for raising funds for 
churches and schools, and the early acts of the Legislature show 
many similar cases. In 1794, Tristram Thomas was one of the 
commissioners to erect and repair the public buildings of Cheraw 
District. 

The foregoing constitutes the brief outline of the public career 
of General Tristram Thomas. Beginning in 1770, when he was 
only eighteen years of age, he devoted his life to the service of his 
country and State. It is a source of profound regret that the 
lapse of time and the absence of all material make it impossible 
to describe in detail his various services as soldier, legislator and 
county judge. His career, however, is so intimately connected 
with the great public movements which finally led to the creation 
and organization of Marlboro county, that his history should be 



54 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

carefully preserved in the public archives and in the hearts of a 
grateful posterity. It is particularly to be regretted that no 
description of the man himself can be given. His personal char- 
acteristics, known to the men of his time, and probably treas- 
ured in the memories of his descendants, are now unknown to 
anyone living in this county. It is a sad commentary upon the 
vicissitudes of human affairs that his family has either become 
extinct or departed from the scene of his heroic career without 
leaving any trace behind it. It is, of course, quite possible that 
his blood today flows in the veins of Marlboro people, who, 
through misfortune and ignorance, have no knowledge of their 
ancestry. 

Tristram Thomas died at his home in Marlboro County, the 
3d day of September, 1817, and lies buried at the Old Saw Mill 
Baptist Church, near Dudley's Mill. He first lived near Gard- 
ner's Bluff, but later moved to the place now known as McCall's 
Mill, about two miles west of Bennettsville, on the Society Hill 
road. It is said that he built the first mill ever erected upon that 
spot. The first wife of Tristram Thomas was Mary Hollings- 
worth, the daughter of Samuel Hollingsworth, whose father was 
likewise named Samuel, and owned land in the Welch tract before 
1746. Mary Hollingsworth Thomas died about 1798, and Tris- 
tram Thomas then married Ann Pledger, the daughter, perhaps, 
of Captain Philip Pledger, who was a distinguished character 
prior to the Revolutionary War. The last wife of Tristram 
Thomas was Mary Harry, the daughter of David Harry, one of 
the original Welch settlers. David Harry and his wife, Cathe- 
rine Harry, came to the Pee Dee in 1737. Mary Harry Thomas 
was born in 1751, and died in January, 1817. Her husband also 
followed her in September, and they sleep side by side at the 
Old Saw Mill Baptist Church. 

Upon the stone that marks the last resting place of General 
Thomas, appears the following simple inscription : 

"Tristram Thomas, Sen. 
Died in 1817. Age 65. 

"Behold the pilgrim as he dies. 
With glory in his view; 
He heavenward lifts his longing eyes, 
And bids this world adieu." 

Upon the tomb of his wife, Mary Thomas, the following verse 
is written : 



BY D. D. McCOLL 55 

"Let this feeble body fail, 
And let it faint and die, 
My soul shall quit this mournful vale. 
And soar to worlds on high." 

Several other members of the Thomas family, probably chil- 
dren and grand-children of Tristram Thomas, are interred upon 
the same spot. General Thomas left the following children sur- 
viving him: Robert T. Thomas, Joseph Thomas, who married 
Susana Thomas; Elizabeth Thomas, who married Joseph Burch; 
John Thomas, Tristram H. Thomas and James C. Thomas. After 
the death of General Thomas, his eldest son, Robert T. Thomas, 
died, leaving his widow, Jane Thomas, and the following chil- 
dren: Philip T. Thomas, Robert Thomas, Nancy Thomas, Ann 
Thomas and Susana Thomas. Of this large family, not one of 
his descendants is in the county today, so far as this writer knows. 
Practically nothing is known of the subsequent history of any of 
the descendants of Tristram Thomas. One of the sons, John 
Thomas, was probably Clerk of Court for Marlboro County 
about the year 1808, though this John Thomas may have been 
the son of Reverend Robert Thomas. It is certain, however, that 
James C. Thomas, the son of Tristram Thomas, filled the office of 
Clerk of Court about the year 1828. He married a Miss Little 
from Nartii Carolina, died without leaving any children, and 
lies buried in the Methodist Churchyard in Bennettsville, S. C. 
He adopted his wife's nephew, A. G. Johnson, to whom he willed 
all of his property. He lived at the old house which was de- 
stroyed by fire in 1915, on the south side of the Adamsville pub- 
lic road just above the Oak Ridge Cemetery. This place is now 
owned by Mrs. E. S. Carlisle, and was formerly known as the 
J. L. Breeden property. Another one of his sons, Tristram H. 
Thomas, attended the South Carolina College in the year 1812. 

It is a sad exhibition of the mutation of human affairs that 
there is today no known descendant of this patriotic citizen of the 
olden time. Whether they have scattered to other portions of the 
world, or whether they have become extinct by death, no one 
knows. All of us, however, who are now enjoying the blessings 
of peace and prosperity in this county today should cherish with 
grateful recollections the memory and fame of Tristram Thomasy 
to whose privations, sacrifices and wisdom the people of the pres- 
ent are so largely indebted. 



ROBERT THOMAS. 

By J. A. W. Thomas. 

When this series in memory of "the old preachers" was begun, 
it was intended to inchide Robert Thomas, because he was my 
grandfather. His grandfather came from Wales in 1609, landed 
in Maryland, from thence some of his posterity went West and 
North, while grandfather and several of his brothers sought a 
sunnier clime and through Virginia and North Carolina they 
ultimately reached Marlboro, about the middle of last century. 
AVhen or where my grandfather entered the ministry is unknown. 
His first son, born in 1762, used to tell us that his earliest recol- 
lection of his father was as a preacher and it is upon record that 
he sometimes visited the camp and preached to the soldiers. A 
young brother, Tristram, was a noted partisan, rising to the 
rank of major in the army, and, after peace, to a generaPs com- 
mission in the militia, and for many years to a seat in the State 
Legislature; was a prominent Baptist and encouraged this mani- 
festation of sympathy on the part of the elder brother in the 
patriot cause. 

Nobody has ever so spoken in my presence of his preaching 
abilities as to make the impression that he was endowed with 
shining gifts, and yet he preached extensively in the region 
around him, at least, at points wide apart. Men were familiar 
with his ministry and his name appears upon the records of 
Terrell's Bay and Catfish Churches — the former fifty miles from 
his home. In 1793, through his efforts mainly, a church was 
organized at Salem. I have many a time read the account of 
the organization and subsequent proceedings, and among the 
first acts of the church was a resolution calling "Brother Thomas 
to be our pastor," and in his own handwriting upon the same 
pages in the "church book" is recorded his letter of acceptance 
in these words: "I accept the call. Robert Thomas." That old 
book has nowhere told what "salary" they paid; but tradition 
has handed it down from one pastor to another that the first 
pastor did require of his brethren "to build a stall upon the 
church lot where his pony was to be sheltered and fed while he 
was preaching." But the tradition has not told it of any one 
of his churches ever gave him anything to carry home to grand- 



BY D. D. McCOLL 57 

mother and the twelve children the Lord had given them. But 
so it was for about twenty years he continued to minister more or 
less frequently to this ancient body; and although they had a 
house of worship near where the present building stands, yet 
the old book records meetings held at "Fuller's Mill," "Hagan's 
Prong," and many other places in the country around. And to 
the day of his death his name stood first on the roll of members. 
The writer has a copy of the roll for the first seventy years of 
its history, and the only entry opposite his name is this: "Died 
1817, aged 84." So that the inference is that from the formation 
of the church he was a member of it till his death. That event 
occurred before my father and mother w^ere married, but I have 
heard them and many another speak of him as he appeared in 
his old age, upon one of his preaching tours, in his winter's outfit. 
A w^oolen cap covering his head, a home-made blanket tied 
around his neck covering his person to the saddle skirts, his sad- 
dle covered with dressed sheepskin unshorn, his lower limbs pro- 
tected with dressed buckskin, and stirrups wrapped with woolen 
strips, the hand that held the reins protected with warm mittens. 
He never missed an appointment; and his "dapple-gray knew 
the fords and bridle paths almost as well as his old master." 
Some of the old people used to say, "His conscience would not 
wear two coats, but he made it up in sheep's wool." One old 
friend of my earlier days used to tell me, "We boys all liked 
him; he always had a kind word for us, and we called him 
Daddy Thomas." A sainted mother used to tell us how "the 
girls were always glad to see him come; he had such a cheerful 
kindly spirit." They all spoke of him as a "jovial, friendly old 
man to young people." 

He had a daughter w^ho married and lived in Britton's Neck, 
near the confluence of the Pee Dee's fifty miles or more from his 
residence in Marlboro, and when grandmother had "gone to her 
reward" and his "children all grown up," he used frequently to 
visit that far away daughter, preaching at two or three points 
going and returning. And while on one of these visits in his 
84th year, he grew sick and soon passed away, and his Britton's 
Neck friends brought his remains fifty miles across the country 
and buried them beside the Avife of his youth. 

No one of his nine sons of this venerable patriarch entered the 
gospel ministry, although several of them were noted for their 
piety; but of his grandsons five at least are known to have lived 



58 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

to old age in the sacred calling — all now gone to the spirit-land 
except the writer. And of the great grandsons, as it ought to be, 
a yet larger number are upon the watchman's post doing duty 
in the warfare against satan and sin. Seven are known of this 
generation thus engaged, only one of them, however, divides with 
me the responsibility of reaping where our honored ancestor 
sowed the precious seeds of gospel truth. I mean my esteemed 
friend and kinsman, Eev. L. M. Hamer of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, South; and soon we shall be gone. 

May God grant that as long as his gospel shall be preached 
on earth he may never lack a man on Zion's heights in whose veins 
shall flow the blood of our old grandshire; and may he make the 
preachers of coming time far more godly, wise and useful than 
the old leaders gone before, or than we, who by his grace, have 
entered into their labors. 

Time now to lay aside my worn pen and rest a Avhile; and 
yet, in writing of these fathers, I have in memory not only had 
a short pleasant season with some of them once known and loved, 
but with many another precious friend at whose feet I have sat 
while they told me of the dear ones "gone before." And if this 
perusal has helped to lighten the burden of years that weigh upon 
the spirit of any old saint, then I am content to bid you readers 
adieu for the present. 



PLEDGER FAMILY OF MARLBORO 
COUNTY. 

Among the early families which bore a distinguished part in 
the affairs of Marlboro County before, during and immediately 
after the Revolutionary War, was that of Pledger. The name 
is now extinct in this State, though it is well known that the 
Pledger blood flows in many other families bearing other names 
now living in Marlboro County. According to Gregg's history 
of the Old Cheraws, Philip Pledger came to Marlboro County 
about 1752 and settled above the Welch Neck on the east side 
of the Pee Dee River. A very interesting passport or letter of 
recommendation given to Philip Pledger by Charles Irby, a 
Justice of the Peace of Amelia County, Virginia, is copied by 
Gregg. This author states that Philip Pledger married a Miss 
Ellis of Virginia, and that he had two sons, Joseph and John, 
and two daughters, and that one of the latter married James 
Hicks and the other married, first, a Councill and afterwards 
William Terrill. There is perhaps no way now definitely to 
establish the fact that Captain Philip Pledger had other children 
than those above mentioned by Gregg. It seems beyond question 
that Captain Philip Pledger disposed of his large estate by a 
last will, but this paper cannot be found recorded in Marlboro 
County. There are, however, several references to it in deeds 
executed by him from time to time to his children and in the 
old equity case of James Pouncey et al. against Jesse W. Pledger 
in the year 1817. This case recites the will and the legacy to 
his son, John Pledger, as follows: "I lend to my son, John 
Pledger, during his natural life, the following negroes, and, after 
his death, to be equally divided among the heirs of his body." 
There is also to be found in the office of the Judge of Probate 
a very fragmentary record of his estate. It is likely that in this 
will he named General Tristram Thomas his executor, and it is 
certain that Captain Philip Pledger died before the year 1787. 
There is probably no doubt of the fact that Anne Pledger, one 
of the daughters of Captain Philip Pledger, married General 
Tristram Thomas and predeceased the latter. This statement is 
made on the authority of a certificate appearing in the record 
of the estate of Tristram Thomas by Major William Pledger, 



60 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

who gave evidence to this effect. It is also likely that Susana 
Bingham, the wife of Thomas Bingham, was a daughter of 
Captain Philip Pledger, The reason for making this statement 
is that in the fragmentary record in the probate's office of the 
estate of Captain Philip Pledger it appears that two sums of 
money, to-wit : thirty-nine pounds at one time and three pounds 
at another, were paid to Thomas Bingham "in part of legacy." 
In addition to the sons above named by Gregg, to-wit: Joseph 
and Jolm, there is small doubt of the fact that William Pledger 
was also a son of Captain Philip Pledger. The former executed 
several deeds in which he conveyed lands and described them as 
the same devised to him in the last will and testament of Philip 
Pledger, and in Book G of Deeds, page 367, William Pledger 
speaks of Philip Pledger as his father. It is stated, though there 
does not seem to be any available evidence of it at this time, that 
Jesse Vining also married a daughter of Philip Pledger. If this 
be true, her name was probably Phoebie Vining. It is quite cer- 
tain that about the year 1795 there were two brothers, Jesse and 
Thomas Vining, living in Marlboro County. Jesse Vining was 
probably a man of some importance and appears to have been 
well educated for his time. Administration of his estate was 
granted to Phoebie Vining June 20th, 1800. His personal estate 
was valued at five thousand, thirty-one dollars and included 
seventeen slaves. Jesse Vining had three sons, John, who died 
unmarried, Thomas A. Vining and Jesse P. Vining. 

Reverting again to the fragmentary record of the administra- 
tion of the estate of Captain Philip Pledger, Sr., the chief papers 
to be found in it are old accounts. One of these, for the years 
1787-89, is evidently in the handwriting of General Tristram 
Thomas, the executor named in the will, and presents indisputa- 
ble evidence of the fact that the latter was a well educated man 
and wrote a firm, legible hand. The only commodity which seems 
to have brought in money was indigo. Three hundred and five 
pounds of indigo seems to have sold for thirty-eight pounds, two 
shillings and six pence. It is probable that most of the trading 
was done with Herriott & Tucker, merchants of Georgetown. 
Ten pounds was paid to John Pledger "on account of his legacy," 
forty-three pounds was paid to William Fields in part of his 
legacy, one hundred pounds was paid to Robert Allison for his 
legacy. 

Another statement is : "Received of Mr. Bay in case of Fields 



BY D. D. McCOLL 61 

and estate." This would indicate that there was some litigation 
on the part of Fields against the estate, and, in another place, 
mentioned a small sum paid to Thomas Bingham as a witness. 
Dr. Wilson (probably Dr. James P. Wilson, of Long Bluff), was 
a physician during this time. That is, the year 1785. Dr. 
Leavenworth was also a physician. It seems that a suit was 
brought by Vining, either against Philip Pledger or his estate. 
There is also an entry of one pound, one shilling and nine pence 
paid to Lawyer Perkins in the suit against Joseph or Joshua 
Hodges. It is likely that James and William Pledger went to 
school in Georgetown, as there is a statement of the payment of 
their boarding expenses. It is also likely that the person with 
whom they boarded, James Johnson, was a lawyer, as he was 
paid one pound, one shilling and nine pence "for drawing a set 
of titles." There is also an entry showing that Lawyer Perkins 
was paid one pound, one shilling, and nine pence "for speaking 
to Vining suit." Also, in a separate statement as being paid for 
William Pledger by Joseph Pledger, who was then the acting 
executor, is the following: "May, 1786, cash lent you w^ien you 
were married, nine shillings and four pence." 

The wife of John Pledger, the son of Captain Philip Pledger, 
was Sarah Pledger, and her name before marriage is not known. 
The children of John Pledger were, first, Philip Pledger, who 
died during the life of his father, John, leaving his widow, 
Sarah Pledger, his children, Mary Pledger, who married James 
Pouncey, son of Major James Pouncey, Elizabeth Pouncey and 
John Pledger, all of whom were under twenty-one years of age 
in 1816; also Philip Pledger and Josiah Pledger, who died sub- 
sequently to the death of their father, John Pledger. Second, 
Elizabeth Pledger, who married Edward Smith, and was dead 
in 1816, leaving the following children: Sallie Smith, Betsey 
Smith, Edward Smith, Harriett Smith, Nancy Smith, Mary 
Smith and Stephen Smith, Third, John Pledger, who died, 
leaving his widow, Mary, surviving, who subsequently married 
William Kerwin and Jesse W. Pledger, a son of the last named 
John Pledger. 

The above named John Pledger, the son of Captain Philip 
Pledger, was a distinguished character in the Revolutionary 
War. He was a captain in Colonel Benton's regiment. He was 
likewise a member of the Jacksonboro Assembly, the first Legis- 
lature held after the British capture of Charleston. 



62 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Joseph Pledger, another son of Captain Philip Pledger, died 
prior to February 4th, 1789, as the citation or letters of admin- 
istration were published at that time. It is likely that his wife 
was named Elizabeth, but her name, before marriage, cannot be 
given. Some time before March 3, 1790, Elizabeth Pledger, 
widow of Joseph Pledger, seems to have married Robert Allison. 
William Henry Pledger was the son of Joseph Pledger and his 
wife, Elizabeth. Robert Allison was born of the second mar- 
riage. AVhether there Avere other children of either of these mar- 
riages is not now known, though it is certain that AVilliam Henry 
Pledger was born of the first and that Robert Allison was born 
of the second marriage of Elizabeth Pledger. The wife of Wil- 
liam Henry Pledger was Sarah Pledger.* 

Besides the daughters above mentioned, other daughters per- 
haps married Thomas Bingham, Jesse Vining, and Tristram 
Thomas. There is no doubt of the fact that Elizabeth Pledger, 
the daughter of Captain Philip Pledger, married a man named 
Counsell. It is not certain whether his name was Henry, William 
or Samuel Counsell. The probability is, however, that it was 
one of the two latter. Henry Counsell died about 1784, leaving 
two sons, AVilliam Counsell and Samuel Counsell, and perhaps 
other children, and it is likely that Rachel Counsell w^as his 
widow. One of these sons, William or Samuel, very likely mar- 
ried Elizabeth Pledger. The child of this marriage was Jesse 
Counsell, whose will is dated July 10th, 1802. In this will he 
left to his half-sister, Jincey Fields, his half-brother, James 
Fields, and his half-brother, John Terrill, certain property. 
There is probably no doubt of the fact that his mother, Eliza- 
beth, married both William Terrill and afterwards William 
Fields. Jincey Fields, above named, married John Donaldson. 

It is likely that Philip Pledger, the son of John Pledger, and 
the grandson of the original Philip, married Hannah Evans, 
daughter of Josiah Evans, who left a will in which he devised 
his property to his wife, Katherine Evans, and, after her death, 
to their daughter, Hannah Evans. It seems that Hannah Evans 
Pledger, after marrying Philip Pledger, Jr., died in 1802, leaving 

♦Joseph Pledger, the son of Capt. Philip Pledger, Sr., saw service in the Revo- 
lutionary War. He was a lieutenant in Col. William Thomson's Regiment of 
Rangers (Third Regiment), which was one of the three regular regiments raised 
upon the outbreak of war. Lieutenant Pledger is said to have resigned (see Salley's 
History), and it is probable that after this he participated in the fighting on the 
Pee Dee. Major Wise, Capt. Donaldson and many soldiers from Marlboro served 
in Col. Thompson's regiment. 



BY D. D. McCOLL 63 

her husband, Philip Pledger, and her children, Mary, who mar- 
ried James Pouncey, as above shown, Elizabeth Pledger, John 
Pledger, Philip Pledger and Josiah Pledger. It seems that Philip 
Pledger, Jr., married the second time, Sarah David, the widow 
of Benjamin David, and that Sarah David had already, by her 
first husband, Benjamin David, the following children: James, 
Benjamin, Sarah and Elizabeth, Sarah David was originally 
Sarah Kolb, or sister of James Kolb.* 

Jesse W. Pledger, the son of John Pledger and the grandson 
of John Pledger, son of Philip Pledger, Sr., had moved away 
from South Carolina in 1816. It may be that he moved to the 
State of Arkansas, where he undoubtedly received a grant of pub- 
lic lands as a military bounty for service rendered as a soldier, 
probably in the War of 1812. 

William Pledger, knoAvn as Major William Pledger, was also 
a son of Captain Philip Pledger, who served as Sheriff of Marl- 
boro in 1792, and as Clerk of Court Pro Tern, in 1824. His will, 
dated August 10, 1825, was probated January 13th, 1826, show- 
ing that he was dead on the latter date. His wife was Elizabeth 
Irby, a daughter of the first Charles Irby. His sons were Wil- 
liam Ellis Pledger, Philip William Pledger, and his daughter, 
Mary Ann Emanuel, the wife of Joel Emanuel. The wife of 
W^illiam Ellis Pledger was Mary Ann Pledger. It seems that 
William Ellis Pledger lived at one time in the town of Cheraw 
and was perhaps engaged in the mercantile business there. He 
seems to have owmed a great deal of property in 1845. His wife, 
Mary Ann Pledger, seems to have resided in the city of Mon- 
togorda, in the Republic of Texas. William E. Pledger sold 
large tracts of land to James Donaldson, of the city of New 
York, in 1832. and in 1845, Mrs. Mary Ann Pledger renounced 
dower to Mr. Donaldson. The last surviving male member of the 
Pledger family of Marlboro County was Philip William Pledger, 
a son of William Pledger. Philip William Pledger married 
Mary A. Graham, the daughter of Ananias Graham. There were 
no children born of this marriage. 

James Hicks married one of the daughters of Captain Philip 
Pledger, Sr. It is probable that James Hicks was a son of 
Colonel George Hicks, and two of his children, perhaps the 
daughters of his marriage with Miss Pledger, were Sarah and 
Nancy Hicks. 

*Katherine Evans, widow Josiah, married, the second time, Rev. Edmund Bots- 
ford. Issue : Catherine, who married Moses Fort. 



WILLIAM THOMAS. 

William Thomas was one of the most prominent men of Marl- 
boro County in the Revolutionai-y period. His family became 
extinct many years ago, and his name and fame will soon be 
forgotten unless local history pays his memory the tardy justice 
of recording the few facts that are now available respecting his 
life and career. In the stirring days of the Revolutionary strug- 
gle, William Thomas was a man of power, influence and wealth ; 
yet, such are the changes wrought by time, that today few 
remember his name and no living descendant cherishes his 
memory. It is impossible, after the lapse of a century, to do 
anything more to rescue his name from oblivion than to set 
down in bare outline the meagre facts that are known of his 
career. 

It is practically certain that William Thomas was born in 
Queen Anne County, Maryland, on the 10th day of October, 1746. 
His mother's name is not known, but it is probably beyond ques- 
tion that his father was Philemon Thomas, who was born Decem- 
ber 19th, 1720. The parents of Philemon Thomas were Tristram 
Thomas and Jane Thomas. Tristram Thomas was the son of 
Thomas Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth Thomas. Thomas 
Thomas was the son of Tristram Thomas and Anne Thomas, who 
originally resided in Talbot County, Maryland. As stated above, 
the name of the mother of William Thomas, the subject of this 
sketch, is not known, but there is a possibility that her name 
was Elizabeth Thomas. There is a deed recorded in the Clerk's 
office of Marlboro County, in Bennettsville, showing that on the 
14th day of February, 1795, Philemon Thomas and his wife, 
Elizabeth Thomas, conveyed certain lands to Marcy PeGues and 
others. In this deed Philemon Thomas speaks of himself as being 
a resident of Richmond County, North Carolina, and the record 
may be seen by reference to Book E of Deeds, page 73. The 
chief evidence upon which the statement is made that William 
Thomas was the son of Philemon Thomas is the declaration con- 
tained in a deed from William Thomas to Philemon Thomas, 
dated June 1, 1779, recorded in Book A A of Deeds, page 393, 
that Philemon Thomas was the father of AVilliam Thomas. The 
latter conveyed to his father, Philemon Thomas, a large tract of 



BY D. D. McCOLL 65 

land for the consideration of six thousand pounds, and it was a 
part of this same tract, one thousand acres thereof, which 
Philemon Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, afterwards conveyed 
to Marcy PeGues and her children, who were the heirs of 
Claudius PeGues, deceased. The father of Philemon Thomas 
was Tristram Thomas. The will of the latter, a copy of which 
is in the author's possession, was dated December 13th, 1745, and 
is recorded in the office of the Register of Wills for Queen Anne 
County, Centreville, Maryland. Two of the items of this will 
read as follows: 

"Item. I give and devise unto my beloved son, Philemon 
Thomas, and his heirs and assigns forever, sixty acres of land 
adjoining upon the main branch of Tuckahoe Creek, being also 
part of the said tract of land called 'Hawkins' Pharsalia,' and 
running with a straight course across my plantation as far as 
will mark the said quantity of sixty acres, provided the said 
quantity of land includes not any of the buildings on my said 
plantation." 

"Item. I will that my son, Philemon, shall be allowed, out of 
the orchard of my homestead plantation, one-third part of the 
fruit thereof, for a space of ten years after my death. Also I 
give and bequeath unto him a good feather bed and comfort, 
rug and pair of blankets and a good pair of sheets." 

It is not known when or under what circumstances William 
Thomas departed from Queen Anne County, Maryland, and came 
to South Carolina and this section of the country. It is most 
probable, however, that he and many of his kinsmen decided 
about the same time to seek their fortunes elsewhere, and that 
following the tides of emigration flowing southward, they came 
through Virginia and North Carolina, leaving numerous mem- 
bers of their family to settle in each of these States. It is certain, 
however, that several of the sons or grandsons of Tristram 
Thomas, of Queen Anne County, reached Marlboro County, in 
South Carolina, between 1750 and 1770. The Reverend Robert 
Thomas is supposed to have come to Marlboro County about 
1750. It is certain that his brother. General Tristram Thomas, 
was in Marlboro County as early as 1770, for in that year, he, 
along with other patriotic citizens of Saint David's Parish, sub- 
scribed to a public fund for the encouragement of domestic man- 
ufacture. It is probable that William Thomas was seized with 
the restless spirit of adventure and fared forth in his early man- 



66 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

hood to make his fortune in the more unsettled country to the 
south of Maryland, It is therefore probably safe to assume that 
he reached Marlboro County between the years 1765 and 1770. 
Bishop Gregg, in his history of the Old Cheraws, has a very 
brief notice of him in the following words: "William Thomas, 
of another branch of the same family, emigrated about this time 
from Maryland. 'He came as an adventurous youth and found a 
kind friend in Col. George Hicks. Wliile living with Colonel 
Hicks, he married his niece, a Miss Little, who was possessed of 
a good property. He settled to the east side of the river, a few 
miles above Cheraw, and amassed a large fortune. He had one 
child, a son, William Little, who married Clarissa Benton. The 
fruits of this marriage were two sons, William L. and Alexander. 
The father, William L. Thomas, was a man of brilliant talents. 
The name of this branch of the family has become extinct." 

William Thomas was extremely fortunate in enlisting the 
friendship of, and forming a family alliance with, Col. George 
Hicks, who was not only one of the most prominent and wealthy 
men of the Pee Dee section, but was likewise distinguished for 
his benevolence and many other noble traits of character. None 
of the early men of prominence stood higher in the afl'ection, 
esteem and respect of the community than Colonel George Hicks. 
Bishop Gregg states that he came from Virginia about 1747, 
bringing with him a considerable number of slaves and that he 
took up large tracts of land. While the name of Hicks is now 
extinct in this county, a large number of the oldest families of 
the county derive their descent from him. As stated by Gregg, 
William Thomas married the niece of Colonel George Hicks — 
his sister's daughter, Sarah Little. Colonel Hicks' sister, Cath- 
erine, married William Little, who was evidently a man of large 
means and who seems to have died before 1790. Whether Wil- 
liam Little was in the party which came with Colonel Hicks from 
Virginia in 1746 or whether he afterwards met and married 
Catherine Hicks, we do not know. The former supposition is 
more likely to be correct for, according to Gregg, the Council 
to whom Hicks' petition for land was addressed in 1747, found 
that three of the persons mentioned in the petition were not of 
Hicks' own family "but his sister's children." William Little 
and his family probably lived in Richmond or Anson County, 
North Carolina. The name Little, while well known in the lat- 
ter State, has never been associated with Marlboro County. Part 



BY D. D. McCOLL 67 

of the lands of William Thomas and his residence were in that 
part of Marlboro near the Richmond County line, and it is there- 
fore easy to assume that William Little was of the latter county. 
On September 21, 1765, William Little, speaking of himself as a 
resident of Craven County, Province of South Carolina, conveyed 
land to John Hicks, who may have been his brother-in-law. 

Sarah Little became the wife of William Thomas, and Eliza- 
beth Little, her sister, became the wife of Morgan Brown. Thus 
these two prominent men of that early day became connected 
by the ties of marriage. The lands of Morgan Brown, William 
Thomas and Claudius PeGues all lay together in the upper part 
of Marlboro County. Morgan Brown, it will be remembered, 
was a conspicuous figure immediately after the Revolutionary 
War. He was one of the first County Court Judges upon the 
organization of the Court in 1785, along with Colonel Hicks, 
Claudius PeGues, Tristram Thomas and others. Again, when 
the number of Judges was reduced to three in 1791, the three 
were Morgan Brown, Tristram Thomas and William Thomas. 
On November, 1784, and in November, 1786, Morgan Brown was 
elected as a representative, and in November, 1788, was elected 
Senator and served for two terms. Then, after the adoption of 
the Constitution of 1790, Morgan Brown was elected Senator, 
along with Robert Ellison, the former drawing the four-year 
term. About this time Morgan Brown sold most of his lands to 
his brother-in-law, William Thomas, and it is not unlikely that 
he moved away from the county, as there is no subsequent record 
of him. 

Nothing is known of any part taken by William Thomas in 
the active military operations of the Revolutionary War. He 
was certainly young enough to have participated in this struggle, 
but, as alread}^ indicated, it is not absolutely certain that he was 
in this county prior to, and during, the time of the war. The 
stronger weight of probabilities, however, Avould indicate that 
William Thomas was well established as a man of prominence 
and influence during the entire period of the Revolutionary War, 
and that he arrived in Marlboro County some time during the 
dates above mentioned; that is, between 1765 and 1770. One of 
the chief reasons for making this statement is that in the year 
1781, when the first Legislative Assembly of the almost emanci- 
pated colony was held, William Thomas, as Senator from St. 
David's Parish, was given the place of chief honor, and even took 



68 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

precedence over such martial heroes as Colonel Lemuel Benton, 
Major Tristram Thomas, Captain William DeWitt, Captain 
Claudius PeGues, Jr., Captain John Pledger and William 
PeGues, one of the most prominent citizens. When the impor- 
tant and distinguished character of this first legislative assembly 
is remembered, it is probably not too much to say that the election 
of William Thomas, as Senator, establishes the fact of his satis- 
factory standing in the community with reference to the Revolu- 
tionary struggle. It is impossible to appreciate, at this distance 
of time, the important position that must have been assigned in 
the minds of the people to this first legislative gathering, which 
is now known and distinguished in history as the "Jacksonboro 
Assembly." 

The long and weary struggle was not yet over. The invaders 
had not yet been expelled from South Carolina, but the prospect 
of a speedy and complete victory was plainly visible. In the 
latter part of the year, 1781, Governor Rutledge issued a procla- 
mation for the Legislature to convene at Jacksonboro, in Col- 
leton County, where it might be protected by the American Army 
from capture at the hands of the British. It has been charged 
that Governor Rutledge, who had dictatorial powers, named the 
members who sat in this Convention. This charge, however, is 
flatly contradicted by Mr. McCrady in his history of the Revolu- 
tion, and he stated that elections were held throughout the State 
and that the membership of this distinguished body represented 
the free choice of the people themselves. Wliether the members 
were selected by Governor John Rutledge or elected by the peo- 
ple, there is no doubt of the fact that they were chosen only 
because they were known to be true and tried patriots and the 
best available men for the responsible positions they were to 
occupy. When the long and cruel nature of the Revolutionary 
struggle is remembered, and the fact that this was the first public 
evidence given to the world of the success of the Revolution, it 
is easy to understand that membership in this body should be 
regarded as the highest public honor and one to be bestowed only 
upon the most deserving, able and distinguished citizens. 
McCrady, in speaking of this Assembly, says: "A more dis- 
tinguished body of men never before, and never after, met in 
the State of South Carolina nor perhaps in any State of the 
Union," William Thomas was at that time thirty-five years of 
age, and St. David's Parish, the territory he was chosen to repre- 



BY D. D. McCOLL 69 

sent, embraced the present counties of Marlboro, Darlington and 
Chesterfield. For him to have been selected to represent this dis- 
trict, which had played such an important part in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle, and for him to have been chosen for the chief 
position of honor and distinction over the distinguished partici- 
pants in that struggle, is the highest evidence obtainable of the 
respect and esteem in which William Thomas was held by the 
community. Members of the Jacksonboro assembly were, no 
doubt, elected according to the provisions of the State Constitu- 
tion of March 19, 1778. Under this Constitution no person was 
eligible to a seat in the Senate unless he was thirty years of age, 
had been a resident of the State at least five years, was of the 
Protestant religion and possessed in his own name, clear of debt, 
a settled and freehold estate of at least two thousand pounds 
currency. Senators were elected to serve only one year while 
members of the House of Representatives served two years. No 
record available to the author gives the names of the six Repre- 
sentatives and Senator from St. David's Parish in the legisla- 
tive meetings of January and July, 1779, and January, 1780. 

At the election held in November, 1782, Tristram Thomas was 
elected to succeed William Thomas as Senator. Again, however, 
in November, 1786, William Thomas was returned to the Senate, 
although he was opposed by Dr. James P. Wilson, a distin- 
guished and useful citizen, who lived at Long Bluff, in what is 
now Darlington County. He was again elected Senator in 
November, 1787. Before this time, in 1784, William Thomas, 
Col. George Hicks and Mr. Robert Lide, all of whom were among 
the most important men of the entire Parish, were elected Com- 
missioners of Caveats for Cheraw's District. This position was 
probably in connection with the sale of lands. When Marlboro, 
Chesterfield and Darlington Counties were created out of old 
St. David's Parish in 1785, it seems that no change was made in 
the method of chosing Representatives, but the three counties 
jointly continued to elect their members and Senators. In 1790, 
however, a new Constitution was framed, and in it a change was 
made in the method of choosing members of the House, and, 
from this time on, each county selected its own members, but the 
three counties together selected two Senators to represent them 
jointly. In October, 1796, William Thomas and his first cousin. 
General Tristram Thomas, were elected Senators. At the ses- 
sion of the Legislature held in November, 1796, William Thomas 



70 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

was elected one of the eight electors to cast the vote for president. 
There is probably no doubt that William Thomas was strongly 
Federalist in his politics and that he voted with pleasure for 
John Adams, Again, in 1798, William Thomas and John Mclver 
represented the three counties as Senators under the new Con- 
stitution adopted in 1790. 

In addition to the other public positions occupied by William 
Thomas, he served as Judge of the County Court for Marlboro 
County. The County Court Act for South Carolina was passed 
during the year 1785 — the same year that saw the dismember- 
ment of old St. David's Parish and the creation of three new 
counties out of the territory that had composed it. These County 
Courts were the first ever held in Marlboro County. The old 
Court of Common Pleas for the entire Parish of St. David's had 
been, and continued to be, held at Long Bluff, now in Darling- 
ton County. AVhile, of course, the County Court was of limited 
jurisdiction and the Judges in most cases had not received the 
benefit of a legal education, yet too much emphasis cannot be 
laid on the importance and responsibility of the duties they were 
called upon to perform. The leading men in each of the counties 
were selected for the positions of County Judge. In the year 
1790, the County Court Act was entirely remodeled, and the 
number of judges was reduced to three. "Three Judges or Jus- 
tices of the County Courts were chosen for each county by joint 
ballot of the two Houses of the Legislature to preside in the 
respective courts which were held semi-annually for the trial of 
the causes." The number of Judges, having been thus consid- 
erably reduced, the importance and responsibility of the position 
was correspondingly increased. In January, 1791, the Legisla- 
ture elected as County Court Judges for Marlboro, Morgan 
Brown, Tristram Thomas and William Thomas. The position 
held by the County Judges should not be confused with that of 
Justices of the Peace, for at the same time that the three gen- 
tlemen above named were elected County Judges, nine others 
were appointed as Justices of the Peace. The County Court was 
invested with jurisdiction for the determination of all causes at 
common law to any amount where the debt was liquidated by 
bond or note of hand or where the damages in certain actions 
did not exceed fifty pounds. In criminal cases, however, their 
jurisdiction was extremely limited. In addition, they were 
invested with the power and authority of erecting court houses 



BY D. D. McCOLL 71 

and other public buildings and had the right to levy taxes to 
pay for the same. The roads and ferries, taverns and public 
houses were all subject to their jurisdiction. All bills of indict- 
ment were presented by regularly empanelled grand juries and 
petit juries were also drawn for each term of the court. It is 
probable that William Thomas did not long continue to hold 
the position of County Judge, for we find that in 1794 he resigned 
and Thomas Evans was appointed in his stead. 

William Thomas had only one child, a son, named William 
Little Thomas. It is said that the son, William Little Thomas, 
died early in life, that he was a man of brilliant intellect and 
gave promise of a distinguished career. He married Clarissa 
Benton, the daughter of Colonel Lemuel Benton. It is inter- 
esting to observe this marriage, which took place between the 
son of William Thomas and the daughter of Colonel Lemuel 
Benton, for the reason that General Tristram Thomas, who was 
an associate and first cousin of William Thomas, was the life- 
long rival of Colonel Benton. Great hostility was engendered 
between Lemuel Benton and Tristram Thomas at the time the 
latter was promoted over the head of the former to the position 
of Brigadier General of the Pee Dee Militia. It is also said that 
the early issues of the Charleston Gazette show that General 
Tristram Thomas was a frequent candidate for Congress and 
perhaps he was more than once an opponent of Colonel Benton 
for this position. William Little Thomas was elected Sheriff 
of Marlboro County March 2, 1796, but it is probable that he 
served only a short time. His name does not appear in the list 
of Sheriffs compiled in the History of Marlboro County, but 
there is no doubt that he held the office. Only two children 
were born to William L. Thomas and his wife, Clarissa Benton. 
Both of these were sons and both died in their early manhood 
without leaving any issue. Alexander Hamilton Thomas died 
on the first day of April, 1826, in the twenty-second year of his 
life. His brother, William Benton Thomas, was born on the 
4th day of September, 1804, and died January 18th, 1825. Wil- 
liam Benton Thomas married Miss Jane McQueen, of Chester- 
field County, but did not leave any children surviving him. After 
his death, his widow married John Campbell, for a long time a 
distinguished member of Congress from Marlboro County. Wil- 
liam Little Thomas, the father of these two sons, died May 17, 
1819. His widow, Clarissa Benton, after his death, married a 



72 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Mr. Jennings. She was born on the 28th day of February, 1781, 
and died on the 8th day of September, 1823. William Thomas, 
his son, William L. Thomas, Clarissa H. Jennings and her two 
sons, are all buried in the churchyard of old St. David's Church 
at Cheraw, S. C. 

At the time of the death of William Thomas, on the 14th day 
of October, 1820, he had accumulated greater wealth than any 
man that had ever lived in the county up to that time. Indeed, 
it is not unlikely that he left a greater estate than any man that 
ever lived in the county. At the time of his death, though his 
son, William L. Thomas was dead, he left surviving his two 
youthful grandsons, and it was to them he willed and devised 
the great bulk of his property. It is a sad commentary on the 
uncertainty of human affairs, that neither of these young men 
lived long enough to obtain very much benefit or enjoyment from 
the vast estate which seems not to have been settled until after 
their deaths. The inquiry naturally arises as to the final dispo- 
sition of this great estate in the failure of lineal heirs of William 
Thomas. It would seem likely that John Campbell, who mar- 
ried the widow of the only surviving son, must have come into 
a considerable portion of the property. This gentleman, however, 
while he had a large inheritance from his own father, proved 
improvident in the management of all property which came into 
his hands, and it is very likely that, at the time of his death, 
most of the property which came into his possession had been 
scattered. 

The will of William Thomas was recorded in the office of the 
Probate Judge for Marlboro County October 30th, 1820. This 
will shows that William Thomas owned large and valuable 
plantations, situate in the counties of Richmond and Anson in 
North Carolina, Marlboro, Chesterfield and Darlington in South 
Carolina, and also valuable lands in Queen Anne County, Mary- 
land. All of these plantations were well stocked with horses, 
mules, cattle, hogs, sheep and farming implements. In addi- 
tion, the testator had on each plantation great numbers of slaves. 
Besides his real estate and farming stocks, he owned other val- 
uable personal property, such as silver plate, bonds and other 
evidences of indebtedness, including shares in the Bank of the 
United States. He named as executors of his will, in so far as 
his North and South Carolina property was concerned, Captain 
Malachi Pegues, of Marlboro County, Christopher B. Pegues, of 



BY D. D. McCOLL 73 

Chesterfield County, Pleasant H. May, Esq., Attorney at Law, 
of Chesterfield County, Benjamin Chairs, of Anson County, 
North Carolina, and Nathan B. Thomas, of Marlboro County. 
As executors of the will for the Maryland property, he named 
Samuel Thomas, son of Samuel Thomas, living at Cantwells 
Bridge, New Castle County, State of Delaware, and Dr. George 
Washington Thomas, living in Chestertown, Maryland. He pro- 
vided for Pleasant H. May, one of the executors, and a lawyer, 
to receive the sum of seven thousand dollars as a fee for his 
services. Perhaps the most striking feature of his will, and one 
that indicated an attitude towards slavery, which seems to have 
been especially characteristic of the Thomas family in Marlboro 
County, was the wise and humane provisions made for the grad- 
ual manumission of his slaves after the expiration of seven years 
from his death. 

The foregoing sketch is intended to give the brief and scanty 
outline now available of the life of William Thomas, who must 
undoubtedly have been one of the most strong and influential 
citizens of his day. Continued research and inquiry have failed 
to disclose any more of the details of a life which must have been 
rich in experiences and achievements which would make inter- 
esting reading for the present generation. The home of William 
Thomas was in the northern end of Marlboro County, near the 
town of Cheraw, and it is probable that his home place, and 
part of his valuable lands, are now owned by members of the 
Pegues family. William Thomas owned Fairy Hill, the estate 
in Chesterfield County, formerly the property of Charles Augus- 
tus Steward, a prominent and influential character of the Eevo- 
lutionary period. It will be observed, from the reading of his 
will, that he had half-brothers and sisters with whom he was 
upon friendly terms, as was evidenced by the legacies he left to 
them. It would seem difficult for the vast estate which he accumu- 
lated and owned at the time of his death to have become so scat- 
tered as not to have left behind a great many tangible traces by 
which more satisfactory information could be obtained of Wil- 
liam Thomas, his ancestry and relatives. The last person known 
to the writer to have been connected in any way with his family 
was Mrs. Jane Campbell, the widow of John Campbell and of 
William B. Thomas. She lived to a great age and made her 
home, up to the time of her death, in Cheraw, South Carolina. 
It may be that the public offices of Queen Anne County, in Mary- 



74 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

land, would throw some light upon the final disposition of the 
Maryland property, which was owned by William Thomas, and 
thus enable interested members of the Thomas family to estab- 
lish in a more satisfactory manner interesting details respecting 
the history of the South Carolina branch of the Thomas family 
in the State of Maryland. One of the chief objects that the 
writer of this sketch hopes to accomplish is to enlist the interest 
and assistance of those who can supplement the facts here 
recorded about William Thomas and his family with other infor- 
mation. 



MARLBORO OLD COURT HOUSE. 

The old Court House, erected near the Pee Dee River about the 
year 1787, is now little more than a tradition. Only a few visible 
signs are left to tell of the considerable settlement which grew up 
around this ancient seat of justice — the first ever established 
within the borders of Marlboro County. Although it is utterly 
impossible to reconstruct, from the scant material now available, 
anything approaching a correct picture of this village of the 
long ago, the present generation may appreciate an effort to col- 
lect the few traditions and records relating to the old Court 
House. For nearly half a century it was the political and judicial 
center of a new community which had won the right of self- 
government by war. After enduring for many years the intoler- 
able hardships of Royal Government, with its nearest seat of 
justice in Charleston, the people had risen in arms and their com- 
plete triumph was marked by the establishment of courts which 
were easily accessible. The Marlboro old Court House was, there- 
fore, a product of the Revolutionary War, and is sacredly associ- 
ated with the events of that momentous struggle. The valiant sol- 
diers who had fought for liberty and the right of self-government, 
returned to their homes after victory to establish those govern- 
mental institutions which had been denied to them by the far dis- 
tant royal authority. The romance and glory of the revolution 
clusters around this departed village of Carlisle, as it was called. 
Those gallant leaders who suffered the sacrifice and displayed the 
heroism necessary to win victory upon the field of battle, were 
the founders of the new village ; though today it is onlj'^ a memory 
and a tradition, it yet lives in the exalted ideals of a community 
which there first set up organized self-government. If all mem- 
ory and knowledge of this ancient village should die in the minds 
of the people, they would lose the romantic background against 
which were enacted the most stirring and vital scenes of our 
entire history. 

In order to understand the causes which led to the location of 
the first Court House, near the banks of the Pee Dee River, it 
must be remembered that when the first permanent settlements 
were made within the borders of Marlboro County, about the year 
1736, they were all in close proximity to that stream. The water 



76 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

courses of the new land were the great highways upon which the 
pioneers traveled. There were no other avenues of approach to 
the interior sections. Some day, perhaps, the gifted pen of a 
poet or novelist will impress upon the people of Eastern South 
Carolina the wonderful influence exerted upon their destiny by 
the silent and turbid waters of the stream, which alone is left as 
a mighty landmark to present the same appearance as it pre- 
sented to our ancestors when they first penetrated Marlboro 
County. For many years after the first settlement, and even for 
many years after the Revolutionary War, the great bulk of the 
population resided near the Pee Dee River. It is, therefore, nat- 
ural to find that the first seat of justice and trading metropolis 
was located near the banks of that stream. 

By an Act of the Legislature passed March 16, 1783, commis- 
sioners were appointed in each of the Circuit Court districts to 
divide the said districts into counties. The commissioners 
appointed for the district of Cheraw were Lam Benton, Thomas 
Powe, Tristram Thomas, Claudius Pegues, Jr., George Pawley, 
Elias DuBois and William Strother. It will be noted from a 
perusal of the names of the commissioners selected throughout 
the State, that they were among the most prominent men of their 
day. Those who represented, or rather lived in the present terri- 
tory of Marlboro County, were Tristram Thomas and Claudius 
Pegues, Jr. It would be interesting to know which of these com- 
missioners selected or suggested the names which were afterwards 
given to the three counties of Marlboro, Darlington and Chester- 
field, carved out of the old Cheraw^s district. It is a striking 
evidence of the neglect of local history, that no one today can say 
with certainty, who named the counties of Eastern South Caro- 
lina. No one knows the origin of the name Darlington, and con- 
sequently one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in eastern 
South Carolina does not know in whose honor it was named. 
The same observation may be made respecting the origin of the 
name of Conway, the county seat of Horry County. It is very 
likely that the commissioners above named, in addition to lajdng 
out the counties, gave to them the names by which they have 
been known ever since. There is, however, no positive evidence 
upon which a judgment can be based in regard to the naming of 
the counties. After the commissioners had performed their duties 
and reported to the Legislature, an Act was passed March 12, 
l785, which made a sweeping change in the territorial divisions of 



BY D. D. McCOLL 77 

the State. The district of the Cheraws was divided into three 
counties. That is to say, "one county lying and being on the 
northeast side of the Pee Dee River, bounding on the said river 
on one side, the district line of Georgetown on the other side and 
on the other the North Carolina boundary, and shall be called and 
known by the name of Marlboro county ; one other county begin- 
ning at the mouth of Cedar Creek on Pee Dee River, thence up to 
the head of the southermost branch of the said creek and thence 
by direct line to the fork of Lynches Creek, being the upper 
county of the said Southern division of the district and shall be 
called by the name of Chesterfield; one other county, beginning 
at the mouth of Cedar Creek, then down Pee Dee River to the 
district line, thence along the said line to Lynches Creek, then up 
the same to the fork, being the lower county of the said division, 
and shall be called Darlington County." 

Under the terms of the Act laying off the new counties, it was 
provided "that the justices of the several counties shall have 
power to erect or cause to be erected and keep in good repair, 
within each of their respective counties, one good and convenient 
court house, with necessary jury rooms and one good and 
sufficient county gaol of such materials, workmanship, size and 
dimensions as such justices shall order and appoint, together 
with a pillory, whipping post and stocks, and shall also have full 
power to purchase or receive by donation two acres of land 
whereon to erect the said county buildings for the use of such 
count3^" The justices were given power to levy and assess an 
annual tax on the taxable property of the several inhabitants 
within the respective counties, for building court houses, prisons, 
pillories, whipping posts and stocks in the same manner and 
upon the same principles as the public taxes are imposed." 

It was further provided "that the justices of each county, who 
shall be appointed and qualified, as aforesaid, respectively, shall 
be authorized and directed to erect the county buildings in the 
most convenient part of each county respectively, having regard 
to the form of the county, situation of the inhabitants and con- 
venience of the people, and in order that the establishing of the 
said court houses may give general satisfaction, two-thirds of the 
said justices shall concur in the fixing of the several places where 
the public building shall be erected, and if injustice or partiality 
shall appear in appointing the place for erecting the said build- 



78 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

ings, the people shall be redressed upon their application by peti- 
tion to the Governor and privy council." 

It is, of course, not known at this time whether there was any 
contest as to the place selected for the Marlboro Court House. 
The site selected was about half way between the upper and lower 
part of the county and clase to the Pee Dee River, which, as the 
great highway, first attracted, and continued for many years to 
attract, the settlers. A joint committee of the House and Senate 
had, on March 21, 1785, reported a list of justices for the several 
counties. Those selected for Marlboro county were Claudius 
Pegues, Colonel George Hicks, Morgan Brown, Tristram Thomas, 
Claudius Pegues, Jr., Moses Pearson and Thomas Evans. 
Of these, Claudius Pegues, Sr., Claudius Pegues, Jr., Colonel 
George Hicks and Morgan Brown probably lived in the upper 
part of the county. It would, therefore, seem that it would have 
been an easy matter for these four justices to have obtained a 
two-thirds vote for fixing the place of the Court House. Moses 
Pearson probably lived in the lo\ver part of the county, and the 
two remaining justices, Tristram Thomas and Thomas Evans, 
probably lived in the vicinity of the place chosen. 

It seems that the first court house site selected was very near 
the road to Gardner's Bluff, not very far from the river and very 
close to the present cross roads leading from Bennettsville to 
Gardner's Bluff and from Evans' or Matheson's Mill to Cheraw. 
For some reason the Court House was afterwards moved lower 
down the river and located near the main road, known as the 
River Road, and on the upper or northern side of Crooked Creek. 
On the first day of August, 1787, General Tristram Thomas, who 
was one of the seven justices, conveyed to "Claudius Pegues, Sr., 
Colonel George Hicks, Morgan Brown, Tristram Thomas, 
Claudius Pegues, Jr., Moses Pearson and Thomas Evans, Esqrs., 
justices of the county court of Marlboro County, two acres of 
land, situate on the north side of Crooked Creek, beginning at a 
hickory near the main road leading up and down the Pee Dee 
River, about a quarter of a mile above the dwelling house of the 
said Tristram Thomas, and then running east twenty-one polls 
to a persimmon tree, thence south fifteen polls to a pine, thence 
west twenty-one polls to a stake, thence north to the first sta- 
tion." It is impossible to state whether this deed covered the 
ground for the first Court House site or the second one. While 
the second Court House site was situate on a road leading up and 



BY D. D. McCOLL 79 

down the Pee Dee River, it probably was not considered the 
main road, and, therefore, it is more natural to conclude that 
this deed covered the lot which was situate on the road to Cheraw, 
more likely to have been regarded as the main road. This road 
is known to this day as the River Road, and runs parallel with 
the Pee Dee River to Cheraw. Another circumstance that lends 
probability to the view that the above mentioned deed covered the 
second and not the first Court House site, is that it was made two 
years after the Act of the Legislature which provided for its 
erection. The recitals, however, contained in this deed might 
indicate that it covered the first lot, as they refer specifically to 
the Act of the Legislature as follows : "Whereas the Honorable, 
the General Assembly of South Carolina, by an Act entitled for 
laying off several counties therein mentioned, and for appointing 
commissioners to erect the public buildings, passed the 12th day of 
March, 1785, authorized and empowered the justices of the several 
county courts to purchase or receive by donation, two acres of land 
whereon to erect the public buildings of the said county." This 
deed was recorded December 5, 1787, in Book "A" of Deeds, page 
175. It was executed in the presence of John Pledger, Joseph 
Pledger and Nathan Leavenworth. John and Joseph Pledger 
were the sons of Captain Philip Pledger, Sr., and had each of 
them borne a conspicuous and distinguished part in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle. Captain Philip Pledger, Sr., and his two sons 
were among the most prominent citizens of their day. It is prob- 
able that they were neighbors of General Tristram Thomas, who 
married Anne Pledger, the sister of John and Joseph Pledger. 
The other subscribing witness above mentioned, Nathan Leaven- 
worth, was one of the early physicians of this section, and it is 
interesting to observe, in connection with him, that soon after 
the organization of the County Court, he acted as solicitor or 
prosecuting officer in the absence of any attorney to perform the 
duties of that character. 

The first court was held at Gardner's Bluff, on the Pee Dee 
River, on the first Monday in December, 1785. All of the jus- 
tices were present and the first business undertaken by them was 
the election of the officers of the newly created county. Captain 
John Wilson, a man of wealth, education and prominence, was 
elected Clerk of Court. This gentleman, as stated by Gregg, 
"emigrated from Maryland to Pee Dee when quite a young man. 
He settled on the east side of the river opposite Cheraw, and 



80 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

entered upon a successful career as a planter. His first wife was 
the daughter of Colonel Thomas Lide." He saw active service in 
the Revolutionary War, and had served as sheriff for Cheraws 
District. His last will is recorded in the office of the Judge of 
Probate for Marlboro County, and shows that he owned a large 
estate, consisting chiefly of lands situate in the upper part of the 
county. This will shows that his second wife was Charlotte 
Hicks, the daughter of Colonel George Hicks, and that his 
daughter, Sarah, became the wife of Oliver H. Kollock, a prom- 
inent lawyer. His daughter, Eleanor, married James Harring- 
ton. His daughter, Anne, married James A. Hart. The first wife 
of John Wilson was Mary Lide, the daughter of Thomas Lide. 
John Lide Wilson, who subsequently became Governor and a 
very distinguished character in South Carolina, was born of this 
marriage. He first married Charlotte Allston, the sister of Gov- 
ernor Joseph Allston, who married Theodosia, the only child of 
Colonel Aaron Burr. The second wife of Governor John Lide 
Wilson was Miss Eden, a ward of Colonel Aaron Burr, for whom 
he won a famous suit in New York City involving valuable real 
estate. 

As sheriff of the new county, the justices elected John Andrews, 
who had seen active service in the Revolutionary War as adjutant 
of Hicks' and Kolb's Regiment. As coroner, the judges elected 
Thomas Lide, who was one of the most prominent citizens of the 
community. He was well educated, wealthy and public spirited. 
As already shown, his daughter, Mary Lide, became the wife of 
John Wilson and the mother of Governor John Lide Wilson. 
Gregg states that Thomas Lide was married three times, first to 
Miss Kimbrough, then to Miss Foster, and finally to a third wife 
whose name is not given. 

The last will of Thomas Lide, recorded in the office of the Pro- 
bate Judge for Marlboro County, shows that he disposed of a 
considerable estate, and also that his third wife was Mehitabel 
Irby Lide. His children were John Lide, Thomas Lide, Robert 
Lide, Charles Motte Lide, Anne Lide, James Wilson Lide and 
Mary Wilson, the wife of John Wilson, as already stated. It 
seems reasonably certain that the third wife of Colonel Thomas 
Lide was Mrs. Mehitabel Irby, the widow of the first Charles 
Irby. She was, before her marriage to Colonel Irby in October, 
1768, Mehitabel Kolb, and was perhaps the sister of Colonel Abel 
Kolb. The first clause of Colonel Thomas Lide's will provided 



BY D. D. McCOLL 81 

for a legacy of fifty pounds sterling to be annually paid to his 
widow, Mehitabel Lide. It is stated by Gregg that this legacy 
was the source of the remarkable and pathetic legal controversy 
which engaged the erratic genius of Charles Motte Lide. It 
seems that this will was made by Colonel Lide during his last 
illness, and it was claimed that the annuity was bequeathed on the 
expectation of a posthumous heir which was never born. When 
demand was made by the representatives of Mrs. Lide for the 
payment of the legacy, payment was resisted on the ground that 
false representations had been made and undue influence brought 
to bear upon the testator when he was in a very weak state of 
mind. It is very likely that Thomas Lide, Jr., a son of Colonel 
Thomas Lide, married Ann Irby, the daughter of Colonel Charles 
Irby. She died in 1842 without leaving issue. 

At this session of the county court, held on the first Monday in 
December, 1785, it was ordered that the public buildings "be 
erected on two acres of ground given by Tristram Thomas, Esq., 
within a quarter of a mile of his dwelling house, and that George 
Hicks, Morgan Brown and Thomas Evans, Esqrs., do superin- 
tend the laying off of same, and Morgan Brown, Thomas Evans 
and Tristram Thomas are requested to draw a plan of the public 
buildings and contract with an undertaker." 

Colonel George Hicks was one of the leading citizens of his 
day. As stated by Gregg, he came from Virginia with his family 
about the year 1747. He married a widow, Mrs. Sarah Gardiner, 
a daughter of the Reverend Philip James, first pastor of the 
Welch Neck Church. He saw active service in the Revolutionary 
War and rose to the rank of colonel. No man in the entire com- 
munity seems to have stood higher in the affection and admiration 
of the people than Colonel Hicks. His last will, recorded in the 
oiRce of the Probate Judge for Marlboro County, shows that he 
accumulated a considerable estate. The will, dated January 5, 
1793, devises to his son, George Hicks, several tracts of land when 
he should reach the age of twenty-three years or marry. One 
of the tracts thus devised was described as the tract "left to me by 
father, George Hicks." He speaks of his daughter, Sarah, who 
married William Pegues, but Gregg states that Sarah Pegues was 
a stepdaughter, being the daughter born to Mrs. Gardiner before 
her marriage with Colonel Hicks. He also speaks of his daughter, 
Polly Murphy. She was probably the daughter mentioned by 
Gregg as Mary Hicks who married Malachi Murphy. His 



82 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

daughter, Lucy, married, according to the will, William Strother, 
though Gregg states that Lucy's husband was George Strother. 
Colonel Hicks also speaks of his two grand-daughters, Sarah and 
Nancy Hicks, the daughters of his son, James Hicks, also his 
grand-daughter, Margaret Hicks, who was likely the daughter of 
his son, George Hicks, who is mentioned in the will. One of 
Colonel Hicks' daughters married Thomas Godfrey and a devise 
is made to a grand-son, Thomas W. Godfrey. 

Colonel Thomas Evans, above spoken of as one of the first 
county judges, was a man of great prominence. He served as 
county judge, as a member of the Legislature, and after the close 
of the Revolutionary War, was elected colonel of the Thirty- 
seventh Militia Regiment. It is likely that Colonel Thomas 
Evans, the elder, married Elizabeth Hodges, who was the sister 
of Captain George Hodges, a prominent Revolutionary soldier. 
At least two of the sons of Colonel Thomas Evans, the elder, 
became men of prominence and distinction. Judge J. J. Evans 
served as solicitor, judge and United States Senator. His 
brother, Colonel Thomas Evans, served as sheriff in Marlboro 
County in 1804, and in the war of 1812 he saw active service as 
major in Colonel John Rutledge's regiment of State troops, and 
upon the retirement of Colonel Rutledge, Major Evans was pro- 
moted to the colonelcy of the regiment. In 1814 he was elected 
to the State Senate, having previously served one term in the 
House of Representatives. Both of these brothers appear to have 
married DeWitts. Colonel Thomas Evans, the younger, married 
November 1, 1803, Rebeccah DeW^itt. Colonel Thomas Evans, 
the elder, after the death of his first wife, Elizabeth Hodges, 
seems to have married on March 25, 1800, Wilhelmina Amelia 
Charlotte Stewart, the daughter of Baron Poellnitz. 

At the March term of court, 1786, a grand jury and a petit 
jury, the first ever empanelled in Marlboro County, were drawn 
It was at this term of court that Dr. Nathan Leavenworth was 
authorized and required to prepare such bills of indictment as 
might be necessary until an attorney could be procured. At this 
same term, John Coulson took the oath of allegiance and became 
a citizen. This was the first time that any foreign citizen was 
naturalized by a Marlboro court. The first presentment of the 
grand jury related largely to offences against the public morals. 
One citizen was presented "for having made several blasphemous 
expressions on the Sabbath day at the house of Mrs. Simon 



BY D. D. McCOLL 83 

Woodruff." The grand jury also "presented as a grievance, that 
the laws against drunkenness and profane cursing and swearing 
are not more strictly executed by those in authority, for want 
whereof we apprehend the morals are much corrupted, and 
we do return our thanks to the honorable bench for their judic- 
ious charge given to the jury at the opening of the session, and 
do request that the same be printed in the public newspapers." 

At the term beginning June 5, 1786, a citizen was indicted for 
stealing two cow hides. The grand jury found a true bill. The 
petit jury found him guilty. The court passed the following sen- 
tence: "That between the hours of 2 and 5 o'clock, that the 
offender should receive twenty-five lashes on his bare back, well 
laid on." At this session of the court it was ordered that a gaol 
be built by the commissioners with all dispatch on the ground laid 
off for the use of the Court House for said county, with two 
rooms ten feet square and ten feet pitch, enclosed by two walls 
of logs with a vacancy of six inches filled in with loose timber," 

At the session beginning December 4, 1786, Mr. William Fal- 
coner "appeared in court and produced his admission to the bar 
in the Superior Courts of this State; it is, therefore, ordered that 
the said William Falconer, Esq., be admitted to the bar of this 
court, and it is further ordered that the said William Falconer 
be appointed county attorney, and that he be allowed thirty 
pounds, to be paid by the said county, and all lawful perquisites 
arising from said employment; that is to say, for every bill of 
indictment, one guinea be paid by the delinquent." 

At the term of court held Tuesday, March 6, 1787, "Samuel 
Lowry, Esq., having produced his admission properly authenti- 
cated as an attorney, that he be hereby admitted to the bar of 
this court as an attorney." At this same term of court the fol- 
low'ing tariff of rates for tavern keepers was established : 

Cold dinner, lOd. 
Hot dinner, 14d. 
Breakfast and supper. Is. 
Grog with each. 

Oats, 2d. pr. qt. 

Corn and all other grain, 3d. pr. qt. 

Stablage and fodder or pasturage and hay, 6d. pr. night. 

Baiting of fodder or hay, 2d. 



84 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Peach brandy, 4d. per gill. 

Good rum or gin, 4d. per gill. 

Northward rum or taffee, 2d. per gill. 

All other spirits 3d. per gill. 

At the same term of court it was ordered that a tax be levied 
on all the inhabitants of this county as follows : That is to say, 
six pence per head on all negroes and eight pence per head on all 
persons liable to pay a poll tax by the Tax Act of 1786, and also 
a tax of one-eighteenth part as much as the public taxes levied 
for the year 178G on all landed and other property made taxable 
by said Act to be paid in specie or the medium of this State into 
the hands of the sheriff, and by him paid into the hands of Cap- 
tain Evans for the use of this county, and by him to be applied as 
directed by this court. 

At the term of court held June 4, 1787, it was ordered "that 
the clerk's office be kept at the same place where it has formerly 
been, and that the clerk do build a house for an office by the next 
court and move his office to it as soon as finished, and that the 
clerk be permitted to dispose of the same at any time after ceas- 
ing to be clerk of said county." 

At the term of court held Thursday, September 6, 1787, it was 
ordered "that the clerk or his deputy, do appear at the office 
near Major Thomas' every Saturday until the 6th day of October, 
and after that, every Thursday and Friday until December term 
next, attendance to be given from the hours of 10 in the forenoon 
until 3 in the afternoon." 

"At the term of court held Thursday, the 6th day of Septem- 
ber, 1787, ordered, that Morgan Brown, Esq., be appointed to 
have a seal made for the use of this county, with such motto and 
representation as he may think proper, and that he call upon the 
County Treasurer for two guineas to be expended about the same, 
who is desired to take his receipt for said money." At this same 
term of court, Mr. James Moore was elected sheriff. It was also 
ordered "that the County Treasurer do pay to Tristram Thomas, 
Esq., the tax that has been paid for last year." 

"Ordered, that Major Thomas and Thomas Evans, Esq., be 
appointed to inspect the clerk's office and to make report to the 
next court." 

At the term of court held Tuesday, March 4. 1788, Morgan 
Brown produced to the court a seal with the following emblem: 
"A cask of indigo, two ears of corn, two half bushels and a pair 



BY D. D. McCOLL 85 

of balances, with the words 'Marlboro County Court Seal' in 
capital letters around the same." 

"Ordered, that the above seal be considered as the court seal 
of this county, and that the clerk do affix the same in future to 
all writs and other processes issuing out of his office." 

""Ordered, that the County Treasurer do pay Morgan Brown 
the sum of two pounds, eight shillings and six pence, being the 
amount of Mr. Thomas Abernathy's account for making 
above mentioned seal." 

At a term of court held Friday, March 7, 1788, James Hub- 
bard appeared in open court and produced by petition to the court 
an affidavit proved and taken before Claudius Pegues, Jr., Esq., 
setting forth that John Stubbs had lately bit off the ear of him, 
the petitioner, which petition and affidavit were by the court 
ordered to be recorded. 

To show that corporal punishment was inflicted upon women 
as well as men, note the following at the term of court held June 
3, 1788: 

"Elizabeth Sanders was found guilty of larceny by the jury. 
George Cherry, foreman." 

"Ordered, that Elizabeth Sanders be taken by the sheriff to 
some convenient place in the court ward, and there to receive 
twenty-five lashes on the back." 

At the term of court held Thursday, June 4, 1789 : 

"Ordered, that Thomas Clinton be, and he is hereby, fined in 
the sum of three pounds sterling for a breach of the peace made 
in view of the court, and that he do give sufficient bond to the 
clerk of this court for the payment of the said fine by next Sep- 
tember court." 

At the. term of court held Thursday, September 10th, 1789, it 
was ordered that William Driggers be bound as an apprentice to 
Michael Mason by Major Tristram Thomas, to learn the art and 
mystery of a blacksmith until twenty-one years of age, and if the 
said Michael Mason shall refuse to take his indentures, that it is 
left in the discretion of Major Thomas to bind to any other 
tradesman as he may think proper in this county. 

On Tuesday, December 8, 1789, a committee appointed to let 
out the public building made the following report: "To the 
worshipful, the justices of the county court of Marlboro County : 
The first report of the commissioners appointed to let the county 
buildings and draw plans of the same is submitted : 



86 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Your commissioners have let the building of a gaol of the fol- 
lowing dimensions, namely : twenty-four feet long and wide 
enough to contain two rooms ten inches in the clear and eight feet 
pitch. The building was let to the lowest bidder for ninety 
pounds. Major Tristram Thomas became the undertaker, and 
has finished his work agreeable to contract, which has been 
received by your commissioners and the keys herewith presented 
to the court. Your commissioners, therefore, recommend that 
the County Treasurer be directed to make a settlement with the 
undertaker and pay him for his services agreeable to our con- 
tract with him, and the order of the court for falsing the last 
county tax. Ordered, that the keys be delivered up to the sheriff 
of the county. At this very same term of court the court pro- 
ceeded in the election of a sheriff, and William Pledger was 
unanimously elected. The court proceeding in the election of a 
coroner, Mr. John Wilson was unanimously elected at the term 
of court held Monday, December 1, 1788. Mr. Wilson appeared 
in open court and resigned the clerk's office of Marlboro County, 
and Morgan Brown, Esq., was required to give up his bond for 
his performance of said office. The court proceeded to elect a 
clerk, and Joel Winfield was duly appointed clerk of court for 
Marlboro County in the room of Mr. Wilson. 

At the term held Monday, June 7, 1790, the following order 
was passed : 

"Whereas, Joel Winfield, late clerk of the county, has absented 
himself from his office as clerk and has neglected to give the neces- 
sary attendance in time of court, the court is of opinion that his 
office became vacant, and, therefore, proposed the election of a 
clerk, and Drury Robertson, Esq., was duly elected and took the 
oath prescribed by law." It seems, however, that Drury Robert- 
son did not long remain in office, for at the term held September 
9, 1790, "Drury Robertson, Esq., clerk of this court, appeared in 
open court and resigned his office as clerk of this county. The 
proclamation was made at the door of the Court House that the 
office was vacant, and the court proceeded to the election of a clerk 
agreeable to law. Joel Winfield was duly elected clerk of court 
for Marlboro County in the room of Mr. Robertson, and was duly 
qualified as such, agreeable to law. Ordered, that the said Drury 
Robertson do give up to the said Joel Winfield the papers and 
records belonging to said office." 

"At the term of court held Monday, December 6, 1790, Mr. 
Drury Robertson produced to this court a commission of his 



BY D. D. McGOLL 87 

appointment as deputy clerk in this county, which was read in 
open court and ordered to be recorded, and he was qualified 
agreeable to law. At the same term Mr. William Pledger pro- 
duced to the court his commission as sheriff of this county, which 
was read in open court and ordered to be recorded, and at the 
same time he was duly qualified, as agreeable to law." 

"At the term of court held December 7, 1790, it was ordered 
that those persons assessed by this county for building a Court 
House, do pay this assessment to Mr. Benjamin Thomas in pro- 
duce, at the following prices : Corn at per bushel ; pork at 

14s. pr. cwt., indigo and prime copper 4s. per cwt." 

At a County Court of Pleas in sessions began and held for 
the County of Marlboro at the Court House of said county on the 
7th day of March, 1791, being the first court held under the new 
Constitution, the Hon. Morgan Brown, Esq., one of the judges of 
said court, produced his commission, which was read in open 
court and ordered to be recorded, and is as follows: (Then fol- 
lows the commission of William Thomas, Morgan Brown and 
Tristram Thomas.) 

It appears that the above were the new county judges and a 
number of justices of the peace w^ere approved and qualified 
before the said county judges as follows: 

Colonel George Hicks qualified as justice of the peace March 
8, 1791, before William Thomas, judge of the county court. 

Moses Pearson and | William Easterling qualified as justices of 
the peace on the first Monday in May, 1791. On the same day 
Drury Robertson was approved as deputy clerk and duly qualified 
as such. /It appears that on or about the 2d day of March, 1795, 
Benjamin Hicks was appointed one of the county court judges. 
Probably in the place of William Thomas. Thomas Evans was 
appointed county court judge on the, first day of March, 1790, 
and produced his commission. Also John Jones James was 
appointed county court judge and produced his commission at 
the same time and i place. The three county court judges at this 
time were : Tristram Thomas, Thomas Evans and J. J. James. 

Robertson Carloss was elected coroner on the 5th day of March, 
1796. 

At the county court, held the first day of March, 1798, Drury 
Robertson, Esq.. jn-oduced his commission as judge of this court 
and was duly qualified." 

The foregoing excerpts, taken from the minutes of the 
county court, show something of the activities of this old 



88 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

court, the first one ever held in Marlboro County. Before the 
year 17G9, no courts were held outside of Charleston. The first 
settlements were made in Marlboro County on the Pee Dee River 
about the year 1736. It is thus seen that the new community was 
practically deprived of the aid and protection of all courts save 
those of justices of tile peace for thirty years after its settlement. 
It was found to be practically impossible to use the far distant 
courts of Charleston for the adjustment of the controversies that 
were constantly springing up among the people. Lawless men 
and thieves, realizing the helpless situation of the scattered set- 
tlers, were, quick to take advantage of it and made constant incur- 
sions to carry off cattle, horses and other property, as well as to 
commit other outrages of an exasperating character. The settlers 
finally, in desperation, took the law into their own hands and 
wreaked summary vengeance upon such outlaws as they could 
apprehend. The provisional government at Charleston endeav- 
ored to check these lawless outbreaks, and, , in fact, sent delega- 
tions into this part of the State to remonstrate with the people. 
The Charleston government, however, was very slow in heeding 
the insistent demand of the people for the establishment of more 
convenient courts. Finally, however, on the 12th day of April, 
1768, relief was finally granted. A new Circuit Court, known as 
the District of the Cheraws, was created. Its boundaries were 
identical with those of St. David's Parish, which was created at 
the same time. This old court sat at Long Bluff or Greenville, 
in Darlington County. Bishop Gregg states that the first court 
was held by Chief Justice Gordon and Justice Murray, at Long 
Bluff, on the 16th day of November, 1772. The Reverend Nicho- 
las Bedgegood preached a session sermon and the people rejoiced 
at the successful conclusion of the long struggle for the establish- 
ment of more convenient courts. All of the court officers were 
appointed by the Crown. George Gabriel Powell, whose subse- 
quent career was closely identified with the affairs of this section 
of the State, was soon appointed one of the judges. William 
Henry Mills, whose loyal principles were then well known, was 
appointed sheriff. These courts continued to be held at Long 
Bluff until the outbreak of the Revolutionarj^ War, and then, of 
course, the administration of justic-e by judicial methods was 
entirely suspended. It is very unfortunate, so far as the history 
of this interesting period is concerned, that the early records of 
this old court were completely destroyed by fire. This old court, 



BY D. D. McCOLL 89 

which sat at Long Bluff, or, as it afterwards came to be called, in 
honor of General Green, — Greenville, was for fifteen years co- 
existent with the county courts created by the Act of 1785. It 
is an interesting fact that many of the counties created 'by the 
Act of 1785 have since passed out of existence, and even the 
names are no longer -known as designating any territorial divi- 
sion in this State. Some of them were Winyah, Granville, Hil- 
ton, Lincoln, Kingston, Bartholomew, Shrewsburg, Washington, 
Claremont, Winton, Liberty, Lewisburg and Orange. 'According 
to the terms of the Act, the county courts were to be held once 
every three months and seven justices for each of the counties 
were to be elected by the Legislature and commissioned by the 
Governor. These courts had jurisdiction of all liquidated debts 
evidenced by notes or bonds ; also of all open accounts and other 
obligations of that character up to fifty pounds; jurisdiction of 
all criminal cases, except such as were punishable by the loss of 
life or member. They also had the right to appoint sheriffs, 
clerks and coroners. All deeds, mortgages and other instruments 
of that kind were to be proven in open court before the county 
judges. Both petit and grand juries were provided for and were 
to be empanelled in the same manner as prescribed for other 
courts. The county attorney was to be appointed. Tavern 
licenses and the tariff of charges I were all under the jurisdiction 
of the county court, as were also roads, bridges and ferries and 
weights and measures. By an amendment passed in 1786, the 
number of judges was increased to nine, and the county court was 
also given power to punish larceny by corporal punishment, not 
to exceed thirty-five lashes. In 1787 it was provided by amend- 
ment that the number of judges might be increased to eleven, but 
that the grand juries were not to be summoned more than twice a 
year, instead of four times, as formerly. 

By the Act of 1791, radical changes were made in the county 
court system. The number of judges were decreased to three and 
the court was to sit twice a year for a term of ten days, and in 
addition to the three county court judges, nine justices of the 
peace were also appointed. This court was given exclusive juris- 
diction of all controversies arising out of any judgment, bill, 
bond, note or other account liquidated and signed by the defen- 
dant, and also exclusive jurisdiction of all other controversies 
under twenty pounds sterling. Appeals were provided for in 
cases involving more than ten pounds. All matters relating to 



90 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

the granting of tavern licenses, appointing commissioners and 
overseers of roads and bridges, business relating to the poor, the 
regulation of the police, were placed under the jurisdiction of 
the county court. It will thus be seen that the early county 
courts were invested with extensive and important powers. Dur- 
ing all of this time, until about the year 1798, the Circuit Court 
for the District of the Cheraws continued to sit at Long Bluff, 
or Greenville. About the year 1798 the Circuit Courts of the 
Cheraws were abolished and the Circuit Courts were directed to 
sit in the judicial district created by that Act. The three coun- 
ties, Marlboro, Chesterfield and Darlington, were made new judi- 
cial districts for the Circuit Court. In the year 1799 the county 
court system was abolished. No Circuit Court was ever held in 
Marlboro County until the abolition of the county courts. 

Thus passed away the first judicial system that gave courts 
directly to the people of Marlboro County. This system was 
probably far from perfect, but it was invaluable, in that it gave 
the people ready and economical redress for their grievances. 
The most prominent men of every community were chosen to 
serve in the position of county judge, and though dn most cases 
they had no legal training, their judgments, being based upon 
practical common sense, were probably as satisfactory to the 
people and as just a disposition of the matters in controversy as 
any system that could have been devised. It is impossible to do 
more than give the names of those who served Marlboro County 
in the capacity of county judges. Some of the early judges have 
descendants now living in the county, while the name and fami- 
lies of the others are gone. Those first selected in 1785 have 
already been mentioned. In 1790 the county judges appear to 
have been Tristram Thomas, Thomas Evans, Moses Pearson, Wil- 
liam ' Easterling and Samuel Brown. Drury Robertson also 
served as a county judge. In 1791, when the number of judges 
was reduced to three and their powers correspondingly increased, 
those elected were: Morgan Brown, Tristram Thomas and Wil- 
liam Thomas. As already stated, some of these early judges have 
descendants in the county today, while others have not. Moses 
Pearson, Claudius Pegues, Thomas Evans, William Easterling, 
all have numerous descendants bearing their name. Colonel 
George Hicks, Drury Robertson, and perhajDS others, have descen- 
dants, but the name in the male line is probably extinct in this 
county. The families of Tristram Thomas and William Thomas 



BY D. D. McCOLL 91 

are extinct. As already stated, while the county court system 
was abolished in 1799, it was succeeded by a new Circuit Court 
system. Courts were no longer held at Long Bluff or Greenville, 
but they were held in each of the counties making up the District 
of the Old Cheraws. Of course, as far as Marlboro County is 
concerned, the Circuit Court continued to be held at the same 
place as the old county courts. In 1798 the Legislature created 
the new judicial system and provided that the State should be 
divided into judicial districts, corresponding in most cases to the 
counties created by the Act of 1785. Clerks of court were to be 
recommended by the old county judges and to be approved by the 
Governor, and the same sheriffs were continued in office. Com- 
missioners for building and repairing the several court houses 
and gaols were elected by the Legislature. Those for Marlboro 
County were the following : William Thomas, Tristram Thomas, 
Drury Robertson, Thomas Evans, Benjamin Rogers. It is not 
now Ivuown whether any material changes were made by these 
commissioners in the Court House building that was already in 
use. It would seem likely, of course, that few changes would be 
necessary, though it may be that the county desired to show its 
appreciation of a court of more extensive jurisdiction by erecting 
a more pretentious building. For twenty years from this time, 
and for thirty-five years, counting from 1785, the courts were held 
at what was generally designated as Marlboro Court House. 

William Pledger, known as Major William Pledger, and a son 
of Captain Philip Pledger, Sr., served as sheriff of Marlboro 
County in 1792 and as clerk of court j)ro tern, in 1824. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Irby, a daughter of the first Charles Irby, His 
sons were William Ellis Pledger, Philip William Pledger and 
his daughter, Mary Ann Pledger, who became the wife of Joel 
Emanuel. Benjamin Rogers was one of the most prominent men 
connected with the early history of the county. He served as 
sheriff of Cheraws District in 1786, and in 1808 he was elected 
sheriff of Marlboro. He also served as Senator in 1804, and per- 
haps occupied other positions of honor and trust. It is certain 
that he served in the Nullification Convention of 1832. Nicholas 
Ware was the other representative of Marlboro County in this 
important body. Benjamin Rogers was one of a committee of 
twenty-one who considered the communication of Honorable Ben- 
jamin W. Leigh, commissioner of the State of Virginia, to the 
State of South Carolina. Benjamin Rogers and Nicholas Ware 



92 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

both voted for and signed the Ordinance of Secession. It is 
impossible for those of the present generation to understand the 
bitter strife that accompanied the convention of 1832. It has 
been stated that no political contest ever waged in the State 
engendered as much partisan feeling. Benjamin Rogers died 

about the day of May, 1836, leaving his widow, Anne Rogers, 

Jane Williamson, who married Bright Williamson, Elizabeth 
Poellnitz, who married Julius Poellnitz, Flora Campbell, Sarah 
Smith, who married Needham Smith, Mary Rogers, Frances A. 
Rogers, Benjamin B. Rogers, Henry J. Rogers and Thomas 
Rogers. The book entitled the "Descendants of Colonel Alexan- 
der McAlister," written by the Reverend David McAlister, shows 
a very full list of the descendants of the old patriarch, Colonel 
Benjamin Rogers. 

Joel Winfield served as clerk of court in 1787. He also served 
in the position of ordinary — now probate judge. His last will, 
dated November 22, 1803, shows that his wife was Mary Marler 
Winfield. That his daughter was Mariah Booth Winfield, and 
his son, Joel Winfield. His sister was Mary Robertson. It is 
probable that Mary Robertson, the sister of Joel Winfield, was 
the wife of Drury Robertson. Mariah Winfield married Dr. 
James Moffatt, and they resided on the Moffatt tract of land, 
formed by the intersection of the Society Hill road and the River 
Road on the north side of the Society Hill road. 

Drury Robertson was one of the early county judges, clerk of 
court in 1789, and one of the most prominent and wealthy citi- 
zens of his day. He also served as a member of the Legislature 
in 1788, 1794, 1796 and 1799. As above stated, it is very probable 
that his wife was the sister of ,Joel Winfield. Drury Robertson 
lived in the upper part of the county and owned large territories 
of land. It is very likely that he lived upon, or near the spot now 
known as Easterling's or McLaurin's Mill. His last will, dated 
August 3, 1820, shows that his wife was Mary Robertson, and 
his two daughters were Mary Caroline, who married George T. 
Hearsey, and Anne E. Robertson, who became the wife of Wil- 
liam F. Ellerbe, a very prominent and wealthy man. 

The will of William F. Ellerbe, probated June 28, 1826, shows 
that he owned a great deal of property. He speaks of his wife 
as the daughter of Major Drury Robertson. He bequeathed to 
his youngest son, Thomas Robertson Ellerbe, $30,000 in lieu of 
a share in the land. William T. Ellerbe was his eldest son, and 



BY D. D. McGOLL 93 

his other son was Alexander Ellerbe. He also speaks of the Mill 
Tract, which he and George T. Hearsey purchased from James 
C. Thomas. This is the place now known as McCall's Mill, which 
was originally owned by General Tristram Thomas. 

Among the early citizens associated with the old Court House 
was Thomas Bingham. He was one of the first vestrymen of St. 
David's Parish, and is said to have built the first church. It is 
probable that his wife, Susannah Bingham, was the daughter of 
Captain Philip Pledger, Sr. The last will of Thomas Bingham, 
dated April 6, 1794, shows that one of his daughters was Nancy 
Thomas, and the other Elizabeth Thomas. He made his wife, 
Susannah Bingham, and "his beloved sons-in-law, Nathan 
Thomas and John Thomas," executors of his will. The witnesses 
to it were Tristram Thomas, Robert Thomas and Joseph Thomas. 
Nancy Bingham married Nathan Thomas, Sr., the son of the 
Reverend Robert Thomas. Elizabeth Thomas married John 
Thomas, who was the son either of Tristram Thomas or Robert 
Thomas. Nathan Thomas and Nancy Bingham were the parents of 
Nathan B. Thomas, so long a prominent and wealthy citizen of 
Bennettsvilk. Thomas Bingham, in his will, mentions his grand- 
son, Joseph Pledger Thomas. He was probably without doubt the 
son of John Thomas and Elizabeth Bingham. It is very likely 
that John Thomas is the same person who served as clerk of 
court in 1808. A man bearing the name of Joseph P. Thomas 
died some time during the year 1821 leaving a widow, Anne 
Thomas, and the following minor children: Charles, Caroline 
and Elizabeth. The best available evidence seems to support 
the conclusion that Elizabeth Bingham, the daughter of Thomas 
Bingham, married John Sands Thomas, who was the brother of 
Nathan Thomas, both being the sons of Reverend Robert Thomas. 
The partition of the estate of John Sands Thomas shows that 
the infant children of Joseph P. Thomas were represented by 
William Munnerlyn as their guardian axl litem. 

Another early citizen who was closely identified with the old 
Court House was Thomas Cochran. His last will, dated Decem- 
ber 26, 1817, shows that he had a son named Claudius Cochran, a 
son, Robert Cochran, and that the latter had daughters named 
Hannah and Mariah. Other children of Thomas Cochran were: 
Martha Cargill, wife of Alexander Cargill, Louisa Cochran, wife 
of H. H. Covington ; Margaret Bethea, wife of James Bethea ; 
Rachel Bethea, wife of Philip Bethea. The widow of Thomas 



94 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Cochran was Elizabeth, who had been, before her marriage, Eliza- 
beth ITunter, a widow who was born Elizabeth House. Whitmeal 
D. Hunter was her son by the previous marriage. It is said that 
Thomas Cochran married first a Council and then a Griffin. 

One of the prominent citizens who resided near the old Court 
House was William Forness. His residence was near Dyers' Hill, 
on the west side of the River Koad, on lands now owned by PI W. 
Evans. His last will, dated October 22, 1.S04, shows that his sons 
were James Forness, afterwards frequently known as Major 
James Forness, Susannah Forness, who married David Mande- 
ville. It is probable that Susannah Forness first married Enoch 
Harry, who was perhaps the son of David Harry, William 
Forness mentioned his granddaughter, Anne Harry, and it is 
likely that she became the second wife of Samuel Sparks. Major 
James , Forness married Frances Irby. The last will of Major 
James Forness shows that his children were Laura Forness, who 
married Madison L. Irby, John Forness, James Forness, Philip 
D. Forness and Charles Forness. Philip D. Forness married 
Mai'iah Irby, the daughter of John Irby. 

David Mandeville Avas one of the early citizens of Marlboro 
County Court and was engaged in the mercantile business in the 
town of Carlisle. His last will shows that his wife was Susannah 
Mandeville, who, as already shown, was the daughter of William 
Forness. The children of David Mandeville were Mary G. Mc- 
Gilvary, David Mandeville, Martha M. Mandeville, Eliza E. 
Mandeville, William F. Mandeville and Cornelius J. Mandeville. 

Claudius Pegues was also one of the most prominent and 
wealthy men in the early days of the county. He served as a 
County Judge, a member of the House of Representatives, and 
was generally regarded as one of the leading men of the communi- 
ty. His last will shows that he had a large estate. His sons were 
William Pegues and Claudius Pegues. 

Williams Evans was another prominent citizen of this period. 
His parents were William Evans, Sr., who came to this county 
with the Welsh Colony people in 1740 with his wife, Anne Evans. 
The children of William Evans, Sr., were, William Evans, Daniel 
Evans, George Evans, Thomas Evans, Ella Evans and Polly 
Huggins. William Evans, Jr., left a will, which shows that his 
children were, John Alexander Evans, Katherine Evans, Lucy 
Evans, Elizalx'th Evans and Eleanor Evans. The wife of Wil- 
liam Evans, Jr., was Elizabeth Vining, who was probably the 



BY D. D. McCOLL 95 

daughter of Thomas Vining. Katherine Evans married Daniel 
McLeod, Eleanor Evans married William Thomas. 

William Easterling Avas County Judge and for many years 
Ordinary of Marlborough County. He was the son of Henry 
Easterling and Elizabeth Easterling, and was born in North 
Carolina, Dobbs^ County, Xeuse River, on the 8th day of March, 
1757. His wife seems to have been Elizabeth Sands Covington, 
the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Covington, who was born 
in Maryland, January 12, 1765. She married William Easterling, 
in Richmond County, North Carolina, April 24, 1783. Their two 
sons, James Easterling and Henry Easterling, were born in Rich- 
mond Count}^ on November 24, 1783, and January 10, 1786, 
respectively. William Easterling moved into Marlboro County, 
South Carolina, January 25, 1786. His son, John Easterling, was 
born February 8, 1787. His daughter, Sarah Easterling, was 
born December 11, 1788. His son, Tristram Easterling, was bom 
July 23, 1790, and died September 10, 1791. Martha Easterling 
was born February 21, 1702. William Covington Easterling was 
born October 29, 1794. Joel Easterling was born November 5, 
1796. Shadrach Easterling was bom June 2, 1798, Bennett Eas- 
terling. Samuel Easterling. Elizal^^th Easterling and David S. 
Easterling were also children of William Easterling. 

Some of those engaged in the mercantile business at Marlboro 
Court House were Solomon McColl. John Murdoch. Robertson 
Carloss. Jf>el Emanuel, Cornelius Mandeville, David Mandeville, 
James Feagin. John Murdoch and Solomon McColl were both 
natives of Scotland, and they were at one time associated in busi- 
ness under the name of Murdoch & McColl. James Fields and 
John David were also merchants. Either Peter or Nathan Cogge- 
shall was in copartnership with Robertson Carloss, under the 
firm name of Coggeshall & Carloss. Dr. Alfred Yeomans and 
Dr. Nathan Leavenworth were two of the earliest physicians. 
Later Dr. W. C. Ellerbe and Dr. Daniel C. Murflwh were the 
physicians of the conmiunity. The well known lawyers who 
practiced at Marlboro Court House were Ezra Pugh, William 
D. James, afterwards solicitor and chancellor: Samue] Wilds, 
who was born upon Marlboro soil, and afterwards had a brilliant 
career. He was elected a judge before he was thirty years of age, 
and, dying before he was thirty-five, he left behind him a reputa- 
tion for brilliancy of intellect, elevation of character and charm 
of manner that few have ever attained. There were also Abram 



96 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Blanding, John D. Witherspoon, James Ervin, Enoch Handford 
and others. 

It must be recollected that General Tristram. Thomas owned 
all of the adjacent lands. He conveyed numerous lots, but it is 
likely that only a few of the deeds were recorded. On the 28th 
day of April, 1817, General Tristram Thomas conveyed to Alfred 
Yeomans a lot of land lying in the village of Carlisle, containing 
one acre, beginning at the southeastern corner of Robertson Car- 
loss' lot, fronting on Main street. This deed is recorded in Book 
"H" of Deeds, page "275." On June 10, 1811, General Thomas 
conveyed to John H. Thomas a half acre lot in the village of Car- 
lisle, beginning at the western corner of Broad street and the 
corner of Malachi N. Bedgegood's lot, and bounded by the Public 
Lot. This deed is recorded in Book "GG," page 102. 

On the 9th day of October, 1813, General Thomas conveyed to 
Coggeshall & Carloss a half acre lot, bounded by the Public street 
and the lot of Dr. Alfred Yeomans, and described as the same lot 
formerly occupied by Solomon McCoU. 

On February 4, 1817, General Thomas conveyed to Robert Lide 
two lots in the village of Carlisle, one bounded by John Murdoch's 
lot and the store lot of James Fields, and the other adjoining the 
Public Lot. 

On the 10th day of August, 1812, John Thomas, Jr., conveyed 
to J. J. Evans a half acre lot in the village of Carlisle. It is 
quite probable that this lot was the same one used bj^ Judge Evans 
as a law office until his removal to Darlington County. The price 
for it was nine hundred dollars. The lot was bounded on the east 
by lot of Malachi N. Bedgegood, lot of Robertson Carloss & Co., 
on the north by Broad street, and on the west by the Public Lot 
on which the Court House stood, on the south by lot of Philip 
Thomas. 

Andrew Smith, well known as a prominent merchant of Chat- 
ham, now Cheraw, seems to have purchased a lot of land in Car- 
lisle probably for the purpose of conducting a branch business. 
It was conveyed to him by Tristram Thomas for twenty pounds, 
February 10, 1807, and is bounded by the Public street, by the 
Public Lot, and was described as the same lot conveyed to John 
Terrell by Malachi N. Bedgegood. 



THE CAMPBELL FAMILY. 

It is probable that the early history of Marlboro County would 
be searched in vain for more interesting traditions than those 
that cluster around the names of Captain Robert CamiDbell and 
his two sons, Robert B. Campbell and John Campbell. Both the 
father and sons were men of unusual and interesting type, and 
they, in their successive generations, impressed their personalities 
so strongly upon the affection and admiration of their con- 
temporaries, that the memory of their lives is yet preserved in 
tradition, though many years have elapsed since they passed 
away. In the absence of any written memorials of these promi- 
nent characters of a long departed generation, it is an impossible 
undertaking to write a sketch that will worthily recall them to 
the people of the present. A community, however, honors itself 
and shows itself to be deserving of true greatness, when it recol- 
lects and reveres the memory of its departed sons, who, in their 
day, occupied positions of importance and contributed largely to 
the advancement of their State. Wliile this sketch is confessedly 
inadequate and incomplete, yet, perhaps, it will serve a good 
purpose by recording the few remaining facts that are now 
known by living men of the Campbell family which once lived 
here in prominence and honor, but which today has largely dis- 
appeared or scattered to other sections. 

Immediately after the Revolutionary War, Captain Robert 
Campbell, who had been an officer in the British Army, settled 
on the banks of the Pee Dee River, near Hunt's Bluff. He 
acquired, in various ways, large territories of land, and, at the 
time of his death, which probably took place some time in the 
year 1820, he was a large land owner and possessed considerable 
wealth in other forms. Although Captain Campbell was proba- 
bly always known as Robert Campbell, it seems that his full 
name was Robert Henry Campbell. He was the son of the Rev. 
Hugh Campbell, of Rothesay, Bute, Scotland. It would seem 
to be a very easy undertaking to learn full and accurate details 
of the early life, ancestry and military career of Captain Camp- 
bell, because he was probably connected with the powerful 
Campbell clan, and the British Army records should disclose 
both his family history and the particulars of his service in the 



98 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Revolutionary War. A great many British officers bearing the 
name of Campbell, saw service in various parts of South Caro- 
lina, and several of them were named Robert. This makes it 
all the more difficult to identify and establish from the infor- 
mation contained in local histories the part that Captain Robert 
Campbell, of Marlboro County, played in the Revolutionary War. 
When it is remembered that the historic Seventy-first Regiment, 
composed of Scotch Highlanders, and among whose officers the 
aristocratic Campbell family was largely represented, was sta- 
tioned for a long time at Cheraw, it seems reasonable to suppose 
that Captain Robert Campbell may have belonged to this regi- 
ment. The scant and imperfect history of this regiment, how- 
ever, found in Brown's History of Scotland, Volume VII, page 
314, does not add very much weight to this supposition. It is true 
that one of the ensigns of the regiment was named Robert Camp- 
bell. It is, of course, possible that Captain Robert Campbell may 
have belonged to this regiment and that, through an oversight of 
the historian, he was left out of the roster of its officers. There 
is probably little room to doubt that the officers named by Brown 
in his history are not all that at one time or another during the 
Revolutionary War served Avith this regiment. For instance, it 
is beyond dispute that Major McArthur and Lieutenant 
McKenzie, one of whom is frequently mentioned in Gregg's his- 
tory of the Old Cheraws, were officers of the Seventy-first Regi- 
ment; yet, neither of these names is to be found in the list given 
by Brown in his history of the Seventy-first Regiment. The 
British Army Registers covering the period of the Revolutionary 
War show that there were two officers belonging to the Seventy- 
first Regiment named Robert Campbell — one an ensign in the 
first battalion, whose commission was dated November 29, 1775. 
Another was commissioned ensign of the second battalion Octo- 
ber 19, 1778, and lieutenant of the same battalion, November 30, 
1780. Another Robert Campbell was lieutenant of the second 
battalion and his commission was dated August 3rd, 1778. His- 
tory records the fact that Georgetown was garrisoned by a force 
of British soldiers under a captain bearing the name of Camp- 
bell. Whether this was Captain Robert Campbell, it is impos- 
sible to say. It will be recollected, however, that Camden and 
Georgetown were, until the occupation of Cheraw by Major 
McArthur, the most advanced posts of the British. It is rea- 
sonable to suppose that Captain Campbell was connected with 



BY D. D. McCOLL 99 

the forces stationed at one of these points, and the more plausi- 
ble theory is that he belonged to the Seventy-first Regiment, 
which, for a long time, occupied Cheraw and held the entire 
Pee Dee in subjection by frequent and bloody forays. The fact 
is said to be well established that, after the battle of Camden, 
large numbers of American soldiers fell into the hands of the 
British as prisoners, and that for some time Captain Robert 
Campbell had charge of these unhappy captives. It is said that 
Greneral Andrew Jackson, who was a prisoner, wrote Captain 
Campbell a letter expressing the appreciation of the prisoners 
for the kind and humane manner in which they were treated by 
him. It seems that the British oflScer who preceded Captain 
Campbell in this duty had been very harsh and cruel in his con- 
duct to the unfortunate American soldiers who had suffered the 
misfortune of becoming captives. In contrast to the expressions 
contained in this letter written by General Jackson, it will be 
remembered that tradition relates that he once suffered a cruel 
punishment for indignantly and scornfully refusing to clean the 
boots of his British captor. 

Very scant mention is made of Captain Campbell in Gregg's 
history. One of the incidents related of him by Gregg is con- 
nected with a slave named Cuffy, who belonged to General 
Henry W. Harrington of the American forces. While the British 
were encamped at Cheraw, a detachment bound on a plundering 
expedition, went to the home of General Harrington, in Rich- 
mond County, in his absence. They seized all of the property 
they could find, including a number of negro slaves. Among 
these was the body servant of General Harrington, named Cuffy. 
He was highly valued by his master on account of his useful and 
valuables qualities. General Harrington made many efforts to 
recapture him, but with no success. The British post at Cheraw, 
when success began to smile on the American arms, was broken 
up and transferred to Camden. Cuffy was supposed to have been 
carried with the British on their return to Camden. "He sub- 
sequently passed into the hands of Captain Campbell, a British 
officer. After the close of the war. General Harrington brought 
a suit in the Cheraw's District for his recovery. The damages 
found were very great, and only to be discharged by the delivery 
of the negro. Rather than to pay the amount. Captain Campbell 
sent to Jamaica for Cuffy, where he had been transported, and 
delivered him to his master." 



100 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

However uncertain we may be as to the details of the military 
service rendered by Captain Campbell and as to the causes which 
brought about his settlement on the Pee Dee, we know that, after 
the close of the war, he established himself very near Hunt's 
Bluff, There is a tradition to the effect that he received a grant 
from the king of large landed estates in Canada and exchanged 
them for lands which he held on the Pee Dee River. He mar- 
ried Lucia Blair, the daughter of Robert Blair. Very little is 
known at this time of Robert Blair, but it is certain that he was 
established as a resident of the Pee Dee and probably that part 
of it that afterwards became Marlboro County, before the Revo- 
lutionary War. It is likely, indeed, that he was a man of posi- 
tion, prominence and means before the outbreak of that struggle. 
He served several times as a member of the grand jury at the 
Court of Common Pleas, which convened at Long Bluff. The 
fact that he was a member of the grand jury frequently, con- 
clusively establishes the fact that he was regarded as a man of 
prominence, intelligence and perhaps of wealth. It is probably 
beyond question that Robert Blair was opposed to the Revolu- 
tionary War and that all of his sympathies were with the British 
government. At the same time, the reports of the grand juries 
of which he was a member, seldom failed to include beautiful 
and eloquent protests against the tyrannical measures of the 
British government. Judging by the description of his lands, 
it is likely that he lived in that part of the present Red Hill 
Township, which, in Revolutionary times, furnished a great 
many active Tories. At the conclusion of the war, Robert Blair 
was named in the Acts of Confiscation passed by the State Legisla- 
ture against those who had aided, abetted and upheld the British 
cause. This confiscation was compounded and settled by the pay- 
ment of a large fine. In this connection, the truth of history 
demands the statement that a great many of the wealthy class 
were opposed to the war and to the rebellion against British 
authority. As far as one can judge at this distance of time, it 
seems that the rank of the Tories were made up of those who had 
large property interests and were, therefore, opposed to turmoil 
and revolution and of the lawless and poverty-stricken element, 
who considered that any change would help them for the reason 
that their situation could not be made worse than it already was. 
Robert Blair seems to have owned large tracts of land situate 
in Red Hill Township, and near Hunt's Bluff, and in Darlington 



BY D. D. McCOLL 101 

County. His last will is recorded in the office of the Judge of 
Probate of Marlboro County, and indicates that he had three 
children, two sons, James Blair and Wade Mims Blair, and one 
daughter, Lucia, who became the wife of Robert Campbell. 
James Blair afterwards died without issue. It would seem that 
Wade Mims Blair was absent and his whereabouts unknown at 
the time of the death of his father, who provided that he should 
have five years from his death to claim the inheritance mentioned 
in the will. Wade Blair was probably the father or brother of 
Robert Blair. Wade Blair, of the Province of South Carolina, 
made his will September 7, 1763, and seems to have left a legacy 
of three thousand pounds to Wade Mims. The legacy seems not 
to have been paid by the executors of the will, Joseph Britton 
and Robert Blair, and, on October 8th, 1791, Wade Mims made 
Joel Winfield his agent under power of attorney to collect this 
legacy from Robert Campbell and Moses Pearson, executors of 
the will of Robert Blair, who had been surviving executors of 
the will of Wade Mims. Robert Blair left the great bulk of his 
property to Colin Campbell, of Charleston, and Moses Pearson, 
of Marlboro, as trustees, to hold for the benefit of his daughter, 
Lucia Blair Campbell. It is not at all unlikely that this inheri- 
tance from Robert Blair accounted for a considerable part of the 
valuable property which Captain Campbell came to own. It 
was certainly sufficient to give him a magnificent start in a new 
community in which his courage and intelligence afforded him 
splendid opportunities to accumulate a fortune. 

The traditions and existing visible reminders of Captain 
Campbell, in the community where he lived, show that he lived 
upon a lavish and magnificent scale, considering the times and 
the primitive nature of the country. He seemed to have brought 
with him, and maintained, the standards and the characteristic 
sports of the English country gentleman. The club house, the 
marks and signs of which still remain, was a place of amusement 
and sport established in the vicinity of his home for the purpose 
of entertaining himself and his friends. Only a few years ago 
a plainly marked race course was visible at this spot, and imagi- 
nation can easily depict the stirring scenes that the old club house 
probably witnessed when rival race horses met there for exciting 
contests. The inventory of Captain Campbell's estate shows that 
he owned and enjoyed many of the instrumentalities of luxury 
and refinement which were very rare in that day. Silver plate. 



102 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

beautiful old mahogany furniture, a respectable number of books 
and a magnificent cellar, were mentioned, as well as seventy-five 
slaves, farming animals and tools. It is not unlikely that along 
with his other business activities. Captain Campbell was engaged 
in the mercantile business and in boating upon the Pee Dee River, 
which, in that day, was the only avenue of commerce and of com- 
munication with the outside world. There is to be found on file 
in the office of the Clerk of Court for Marlboro County the 
fragmentary record of an old lawsuit between Captain Campbell 
and John Keith, Esq., respecting a disputed shipment of eighteen 
hundred bushels of com, for which Mr. Keith claimed to have 
paid Captain Campbell twice. Georgetown was the chief depot 
of supplies and the mart of trade to which were sent the agri- 
cultural products of the Pee Dee section. Captain Campbell was 
probably more favorably situated for the handling of a consid- 
erable part of this trade than any other man in his section of the 
county, and it is, therefore, natural to find that his proximity to 
the great channel of commerce brought him closely into contact 
with the refinement, luxuries and elegance of city life. 

Captain Campbell, by his marriage to Lucia Blair, had three 
sons and two daughters. The sons were Eobert Blair Campbell, 
James Campbell and John Campbell. The daughters were 
Mariah Campbell and Lucia Campbell. It seems, according to 
the statements contained in Robert Campbell's will, which is 
recorded in the office of the Probate Judge, that at the time of 
his death, he was married to a second wife, Henrietta Campbell, 
and that Annie Campbell and Robert H. Campbell were the 
children of this marriage. James Campbell and Lucia Campbell 
both died unmarried. The Campbell family, now living in Marl- 
boro County, is probably descended from Robert Campbell 
through his second marriage with Henrietta Campbell. This 
sketch, however, is intended, primarily, to deal only with the 
issue of the first marriage and, more especially, with the careers 
of Robert B. Campbell and John Campbell. The last will of 
Captain Robert Campbell, as well as the inventory of his estate, 
show that when he died he was a very wealthy man, according 
to the standards of that day. The great bulk of his property 
was left to his children by his first marriage, although he pro- 
vided very handsomely for his surviving wife, Henrietta Camp- 
bell, and her children. 

The oldest son was Robert Blair Campbell. It is very unfor- 
tunate that so little information is now available respecting this 



BY D. D. McGOLL 103 

distinguished son of Marlboro County. He occupied, during the 
course of his life, many positions of public honor and trust, but 
none of his descendants now reside in Marlboro County, and it 
is, therefore, very difficult to obtain those interesting details 
which would add so much to the history of his career. Nothing 
is known of his youth or of the schools that he attended. His 
father, however, being a man of means and alive to the educa- 
tional needs of his children, probably employed private tutors, 
and, owing to the great friendship that was known to exist 
between Donald MacDearmid and Robert Campbell, it is not 
at all unlikely that the former taught the sons of the latter. 
Robert B. Campbell entered the South Carolina College, which 
had been recently established, and was graduated from that insti- 
tution in the class of 1809. Among his classmates were John 
Lide Wilson and James L. Pettigrew. Among those who attended 
college at the same time are found those whose names afterwards 
became distinguished in South Carolina history. Contemporary 
evidence establish the fact that young Campbell soon began to 
take an interest in political affairs, and thus we find that in 
1821 or 1822 he was elected to the State Senate to succeed Robert- 
son Carloss. Whether there was a contest between these two men 
and Campbell proved the victor is not now known. At any rate, 
before his term expired he was elected as a State's Rights Whig 
to the Eighteenth Congress, which convened March 4th, 1823. 
In this connection, an error in the history of Marlboro County, 
written by Capt J. A. W. Thomas, may be pointed out. It 
appears in the compilation of the members of the Legislature 
made by him, that Robert B. Campbell served in the State Senate 
from 1822 to 1825, when, as a matter of fact, it can hardly be 
doubted that on the 4th day of March, 1823, Campbell took his 
seat as a member of Congress. In this connection, it may be 
noted, that while there is no direct evidence regarding the mat- 
ter, it can hardly be doubted that up to 1809 the Federalist party 
controlled the politics of Marlboro County and, perhaps, of this 
entire section. Furthermore, that the right of suffrage was prob- 
ably based upon a property qualification and that the manage- 
ment of all political affairs was thus vested in the hands of a 
small proportion of the entire citizenship. It seems that Mr. 
Campbell, immediately after his return from college, became an 
active advocate of a reform and enlargement of the suffrage and 
that, in a manner characteristic of young men entering public 



104 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

life, he entertained rather radical views. The predecessor of Mr. 
Campbell in Congress was Thomas R. Mitchell, of Georgetown. 
It is not known whether Mr. Campbell defeated Mr. Mitchell, 
or the latter retired from the office. It is interesting to observe, 
however, that Mr, Campbell did not succeed himself in Con- 
gress, and that Thomas R. Mitchell was elected to the two suc- 
ceeding Congresses. At the present time it is very seldom that 
a defeated candidate for Congress is ever re-elected, especiall}^ in 
opposition to the person who brought about his own defeat. It 
would be very interesting to know whether there were rivalries 
and contests between Thomas R. Mitchell and Robert B. Camp- 
bell, or whether political position in those days came without the 
sharp and bitter struggles which seem to be necessary to success 
in this day. Thomas R. Mitchell was himself then succeeded by 
John Campbell, who was elected to the Twenty-first Congress; 
and, again, we find Thomas R. Mitchell representing the district 
in the Twenty-second Congress. In 1830 Robert B. Campbell 
was elected to the State Senate to succeed James R. Ervin, who 
had himself been elected to succeed Robert B. Campbell. In 
1832 Thomas D. Singleton was elected to the Twenty-third Con- 
gress, on the nullification platform. This gentleman was from 
Williamsburg County and had been Sheriff of his county. He 
died before Congress assembled and Robert B. Campbell was 
elected as his successor, also as a nullifier. James R. Ervin, who 
was a brilliant lawyer and very prominent at this time in Marl- 
boro County, was a strong Federalist and Union man. Robert B. 
Campbell was re-elected to the Twenty-fourth Congress in 1835. 
He was then succeeded by his brother, John Campbell, who 
served in the Twenty-fifth, the Twenty-sixth, the Twenty-seventh 
and the Twenty-eighth Congresses. It is thus seen that Robert B. 
Campbell served six years in Congress, from March 4th, 1823, to 
March 4th, 1825 ; then, from March 4th, 1833, to March 4th, 1837. 
His brother, John Campbell, served in all ten years ; that is, from 
March 4th, 1829, to March 4th, 1831; then, from March 4th, 1837, 
to March 4th, 1845. John Campbell was succeeded by A. D. 
Simms, of Darlington, who served four years, and then was 
succeeded by John McQueen, of Bennettsville, S. C. Robert B. 
Campbell occupied other important public positions. He was 
appointed Consul General at Habana, Cuba, in 1842. About the 
year 1851 he was appointed commissioner for the United States 
Government to aid in settlement of the disputed boundary line 



BY D. D. McCOLL 105 

between Texas and Mexico. After this, he was appointed Consul 
General at Liverpool, or London, England, and he served about 
eight years in this position, but resigned his office at the opening 
of the War Between the States and died soon afterward. 

Kobert B. Campbell first married Miss Mary Anne Lee, of 
Virginia, who was closely related to the distinguished family 
bearing that name in that State. It is said that Mrs. Campbell 
was a first cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The following children 
were born of this marriage : Robert Campbell, deceased, without 

issue; Mariah Campbell, who married Thomas , deceased, 

three children survived: Eliza, married Thomas Evans, a son 
of Judge J. J. Evans, deceased, with three children surviving; 
Laura Campbell, who married General Palfrey — she and her 
two children are now deceased; Cecelia, died unmarried; Frank, 
married Ellen King, and three children survived. Two of Gen. 
Robert B. Campbell's sons, by his first marriage, served in the 
Confederate army. After the death of his first wife. General 
Campbell married, while he was stationed in Habana as Consul 
General, Caroline Morland, the daughter of John Morland, Esq., 
residing at that time in Habana. Of this marriage the following 
children were born : Agnes Morland, Lucia Blair and John Mor- 
land. All of these are now living, and the Misses Campbell reside 
at Summerville, S. C. In the division of his father's estate. Gen- 
eral Campbell received Ellerslie, the beautiful plantation which 
is at this time owned by Mr. William B. Drake. 

Col. John Campbell, as he came to be known, also graduated 
at the South Carolina College in 1819. It is likely that he was 
a good many years younger than his brother Robert. He studied 
law and was admitted to the bar. He was first elected to Con- 
gress upon the same platform as his brother — that is, as a State's 
Rights Whig. He married Mrs. Jane Thomas, who was bom 
Jane McQueen, and first married William B. Thomas, the grand- 
son of William Thomas, an immensely wealthy man, who died 
in 1820, leaving his estate to his two grandsons, both of whom 
died in their early manhood without leaving children. No 
children were born of this marriage. Colonel John Campbell 
died at his home near Parnassus, on the 19th day of May, 1845, 
which was only a few months after his last term in Congress 
expired. His widow, Jane Campbell, lived for a great many 
years after the death of her husband, in Cheraw, South Carolina. 
In fact, it has been only a few years ago since she died. 



106 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

Of the daughters of Captain Robert Campbell very little is 
known. Lucia Campbell is said to have died just after reaching 
maturity. Mariah married Mr. David G. Coit, of Cheraw, a well 
known lawyer. After his death, she married James H. McQueen 
of Richmond County, North Carolina, and lived there until she 
died, and she was then buried at the old Stewartsville graveyard. 
Her children by her first marriage were David Coit, James Coit, 
Lucia Coit, Mariah Coit and Elizabeth Coit. Her children by 
the last marriage with James H. McQueen were Anna McQueen 
and Eleanor McQueen. Mariah Campbell, as a beautiful young 
woman, was well known in Washington society during the time 
that her brother, Robert B., served in Congress. There, Sam 
Houston, then youthful and gallant, met her and laid his fortunes 
at her feet. Tradition tells of the long courting journey by horse- 
back to Marlboro which was in vain. Marlboro people who have 
read of the brilliant and romantic career of Sam Houston may 
have never known that he wooed and lost the fair Mariah Camp- 
bell. 

The foregoing constitutes the brief outline of the facts which 
have been available respecting this splendid family which once 
lived in Marlboro County. The charm of manner that was char- 
acteristic of General Robert B. Campbell and Colonel John 
Campbell has lived in tradition and many incidents are related 
to illustrate the attractiveness and magnetism of their personali- 
ties. It is said that, upon one occasion, a gentleman to whom one 
of the brothers owed an obligation, stated to his business partner 
that he had not been able to collect it for the reason he always 
found Mr. Campbell so agreeable and hospitable he could not 
bring himself to mention the indebtedness to him, whereupon, 
his partner declared that he would go and collect the sum, and, 
upon his return, he was asked as to the success of his mission. He 
stated that he had not only not collected the debt, but had also 
agreed to a new advancement of several thousand dollars. 
Another incident that has lived in tradition is too highly credit- 
able to the early patriotism of the gifted Robert B. Campbell 
to be left out of a sketch of his life. It is stated that when the 
War of 1812 between America and Great Britain first began, 
that old Captain Campbell offered to procure a commission for 
him if he would espouse the cause of the British. To this pro- 
posal, so tradition relates, Robert B. Campbell returned the noble 
answer, "that he was an American citizen and would accept no 



BY D. D. McCOLL 107 

employment or honor from the hands of his country's enemies." 
This incident may not be true, but, at any rate, the patriotism 
and popularity of Gen. Robert B. Campbell and his brother, 
Col. John Campbell, can not be doubted when it is recollected 
that, in spite of their father's record as a British officer, they 
were again and again elected to the highest positions of honor 
and trust by the votes of their neighbors and his. It is impossi- 
ble to realize, at this time, the bitterness and hostility which 
were engendered by the Revolutionary War between the Whigs 
and Tories, and, while Captain Campbell was not a Tory, but 
a British officer, it can not be imagined that his political senti- 
ments and principles aroused anything save the violent hostility 
of the people who had perhaps frequently suffered loss in their 
persons and property at the hands of his soldiers. For Gen. 
Robert Campbell and his brother. Col. John Campbell, to have 
overcome this prejudice and hostility and to have converted it 
into the warm friendship and admiration which sent them fre- 
quently, as the choice of the people, to the councils of the nation, 
is the highest evidence that could be offered of the strong posi- 
tion they occupied in this community. 

The old family graveyard on Argyle plantation is enclosed 
with a substantial and durable wall of sandstone, but there is no 
stone to mark any of the graves. Col. John Campbell directed 
in his will that stones should be erected, but this was never done. 
The old club house still stands. Once the center of gaiety and 
festivity, it is now a tenant house. Though fallen from its proud 
position as the abode of sport and pleasure, it yet stands in 
strength and plays its useful part in the practical activities of 
the more prosaic present. Hard by the club house, and almost 
within the graveyard enclosure, a majestic oak stands in solitary 
grandeur, keeping watch and ward over the earthly remains of 

Note — Since the above sketch was completed, there was pointed out to the 
writer by William Godfrey, Esq., of Cheraw, S. C, a grave in St. David's Church- 
yard, which he stated was considered to be the last resting place of Captain Robert 
Campbell. This grave, immediately to the left as one enters the front gate of St. 
David's Churchyard, is made of brick and splendidly preserved, though it is 
unmarked. Mr. Godfrey stated that his information was derived from his grand- 
father, who was a prominent banker in Cheraw before the Civil War. It is likely, 
however, that this is the grave of some other British officer bearing the name of 
Campbell, and not that of Captain Robert Campbell of Marlboro County. As shown 
above, the Seventy-first Regiment, which was encamped at Cheraw, had several 
oflBcers named Campbell, and the grave in St. David's perhaps is the last resting 
place of one of these. The last will of Colonel John Campbell leaves small room to 
doubt that his father was buried at the old Club Plouse in Marlboro County. 

D. D. McCoLL, .Tr. 



108 SKETCHES OF OLD MARLBORO 

the Campbells. The family that now owns Argyle, though 
strangers in blood to the Campbells, has for generations past, 
with characteristic fineness of feeling, sacredly guarded and pro- 
tected this ancient burial spot. 

This sketch, brief and inadequate as it is, is intended to pre- 
serve, as far as possible, the name and fame of these gentlemen 
of the olden time whose charm and grace of manner, ability and 
distinguished gifts, should not be forgotten by posterity. 



LRBAp'i7 



